Scotland youth peer support - Information for participants

Aged 11-25 and have type 1 diabetes?

Want to meet new people and get support from your peers?

Join us to connect, support and share

Diabetes Scotland has launched a new peer support project for young people aged 11-25 across Scotland. By being part of this project you will get the opportunity to:

• Meet new people.
• Learn from other people’s experiences.
• Connect with people across Scotland.
• And have some fun!

We have three different opportunities currently all being delivered by trained peer support volunteers all with type 1 aged 18-25. These include:

• 1-2-1 buddying: get connected with a buddy who you can chat with one-on-one about issues you may have, things you want to know more about, and anything else diabetes-related. This is a great opportunity for anyone who is transitioning from a children's clinic to an adult clinic, starting university and leaving home for the first time, or anyone who just needs a bit more support around their diabetes from someone who can understand and empathise.

• Local group support: through this opportunity our trained peer support volunteers will bring a group of people together from a local community, provide a space for you to chat, share experiences, learn from each other, and have some fun. This is a perfect opportunity for anyone looking to meet more people with type 1, who wants to chat to a group about issues and learn from each other and anyone who wants to try new things. Activities may include quizzes, talks from special guests, film screenings, games, drop-in coffee and chat, and other fun activities that you want to get involved in.

• Young Leaders: This project enables and encourages young people aged 16-25 living with type 1 diabetes to come together, meet others their age and develop new, innovative and positive ways of providing peer support. Find out more here.

Other opportunities:

• Helping Hands for Health: We understand that being a young person living with type 1 diabetes is tough, that is why we have put together a package of supports for young people aged 11-25 in managing their emotional and physical health and wellbeing. Find out more here.

If you’d like to know more about these please get in touch via the form and email address below.

We asked our current volunteers about why they think you should come and join the project and what they are most excited to get to do, here’s what two of them had to say:

Ella Booth said: 

“It’s a great opportunity to meet others that truly understand the difficulties that us type ones face on a daily basis. Especially for a condition that is invisible, it can be rather isolating.

“I wish I had this project when I was newly diagnosed, speaking to other young diabetics has helped me immensely in my confidence with dealing with my diabetes and also allowed me to ask them about their experiences of growing up and moving away from home with diabetes.

“I’m most excited about meeting other young diabetics wanting to help make a difference and hopefully having a positive impact on people who join the project.”

 

Jamie Morrison said:

“Meet other diabetics! And discuss topics that will help you gain better control, with others that have a similar perspective in a judgment free area!”

Fill in our form to sign up or get more information or get in touch via email on scotland@diabetes.org.uk. 

This project is funded by The Scottish Government, The Jane Goodman Foundation and through the Living Well: Emotional Support Matters Covid Response fund (which is a partnership between the Mental Health Foundation and the Alliance.) 

Living Well: Emotional Support Matters is part of the Mental Health Foundation’s COVID Response Programme to offer practical mental health support to people who have been most adversely impacted by the pandemic. People living with long term health conditions are more likely to develop mental health problems. Mental health problems can be prevented if people and communities are supported to live well, and if we tackle the root causes of poor mental health.