What is peer education?
Peer educators are trained to deliver interactive workshops on topics that matter today to Brownies, Guides and Rangers and groups of similar age outside of Girlguiding. Peer educators draw on their own experiences allowing young members to fully engage and relate and empower younger girls to combat issues they may face in life, inspiring them and equipping them with life-long skills. Find out more about peer education.
What should I expect?
At this Basic Training Weekend, you’ll learn the skills necessary to be a peer educator, receive training in the Think Resilient resource designed to build mental wellbeing, and grow resilience and leave equipped with the ability to start delivering sessions in your county!
Peer education training weekends are usually over-subscribed. This is a medium scale event with around 40 members expected to attend. The weekend is jam-packed with information and activities to support as many young people as possible to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to move forward as a peer educator. Our experienced training team keep an eye on all participants and offer feedback multiple times throughout the weekend. Participants are expected to take an active part in all elements of the weekend, including giving and receiving feedback. If you don’t meet the minimum standard required to become a peer educator, a member of the training team will explore this with you and you may be asked to come back in the future or be guided towards a different opportunity that could suit you better.
Travel arrangements
Participants make their own way to the venue.
Willow Tree is within 15 minutes’ drive of the M25. The nearest stations are West Ruislip (Central Line; National Rail) and Ruislip (Metropolitan and Piccadilly Lines). We can arrange lifts to the venue from the station, with advance notice. In addition the 331 bus also stops within walking distance of the Centre.
Travel expenses are not covered by Girlguiding London and South East England but we would encourage you to contact your county team as your county may be able to support you. If the area in which you guide is within an area of high deprivation, you may be able to apply for a Girlguiding London and South East England grant with approval from your commissioner.
How do I become a peer educator?
- Sign up to attend Basic Training using this form. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, after which a waiting list will be operated. Registration closes on Friday 10th January 2025, or before if event capacity is reached.
- Send your payment using the details on the form to secure your place. Your place will be confirmed via email once we receive your payment. Please note, should you be unable to make the event, the payment will not be refundable unless your place can be filled by someone else.
If you have any concerns about paying, please contact your county commissioner who may be able to offer financial support.
Pre-training requirements
There are some pre-training requirements which must be completed at least two weeks before the training weekend:
- Complete the Introduction to peer education e-learning. When you have completed this, log it here so that it can be added to your GO record.
- Complete A Safe Space Level 1 & 2, if you are over 18. If you are under 18, complete A Safe Space for those aged 14-17. If you have already completed the relevant A Safe Space training, ensure that this doesn’t run out in the next 5 months, or you will have to complete the training again. A Safe Space training can be accessed on the learning platform but if you have difficulties logging in, do ask your unit leader or commissioner for help.
- Watch the Think Resilient topic video and complete the quiz
The Queen’s Guide award and peer education
If you are working towards your Queen’s Guide award, attending a Peer Education Basic Training weekend can count as your social experience challenge (option 1; new award scheme) or your residential experience (old award scheme). If you intend to use the Basic Training weekend towards your award, you should inform and agree this with your coordinator/mentor and indicate this at the appropriate point on the application form. We are unable to sign off sections of the award without prior confirmation from your coordinator/mentor. After you have qualified as a peer educator, running peer education sessions can also count towards aspects of your award.
Accessibility and inclusion
Our knowledgeable and welcoming training team strive to adapt our sessions as much as possible but, as this is a training weekend and there is content to cover, we are limited to how much we can change the weekend. We try our best to be as inclusive as possible and rely on participants being open and honest about their needs with us so we can work with them in the run-up to the event. You may be contacted regarding adjustments prior to the event, which could include creating an event-specific adjustment plan.
Next steps
If you have any questions or queries, please email peereducation@girlguidinglaser.org.uk. If your query is about booking or payment, please contact Jane Harvey via info@girlguidinglaser.org.uk (copying in an adult if you are under 18).
We’ll send out a detailed information pack and host an online session to provide an overview of the weekend nearer to the event.
If you cannot attend this basic training weekend but are still keen to train as a peer educator, please register your interest to hear about future training opportunities.
