Marsh Awards for Mental Health Peer Support 2021
About the 2021 Awards
We are inviting nominations from all peer led support groups in England and Wales.
We will be awarding 9 projects/groups under the categories of 1) ‘Peer Support in Marginalised Groups’, 2) ‘Doing it for Ourselves’ and 3) ‘Innovative Peer Support’.
For each category one project will receive a £500 cash award, and two projects will receive £250 each.
The Marsh Charitable Trust (MCT) is a grant-making body which offers an award scheme, working with different partner charities, to celebrate outstanding work being achieved across the charity sector.
To recognise excellence in mental health peer support, MCT works with Mind and PeerFest partner organisations to run the Marsh Awards for Mental Health Peer Support in England and Wales.
Peer support happens when people work together, or support each other, from their lived experience. It can take place informally and formally, in all sorts of settings such as in user led organisations, projects, support groups and in the workplace. It means different things to different people. It may also be called self-help, befriending/wellbeing groups, meet ups, or mentoring. It also can take place online, by phone or other means.
Peer led peer support is a group or project directly run by the people with lived experience in the group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the entry criteria?
- Nominations will be accepted from a peer support group (not an individual)
- The group needs to operate in England or Wales
- The group’s main focus needs to centre around mental health / supporting emotional wellbeing
- The group is peer led
How will winners be decided?
A judging panel of people with peer support expertise, others with lived experience, and representatives from PeerFest partner organisations will assess groups/projects within a framework of peer support principles. (An example of peer support principles can be seen here: www.nsun.org.uk/peer-support-charter.)
We will also be looking at how projects impact upon people’s lives.
Can a member of a group nominate their own group?
Nominations need to come collectively from groups themselves, so complete this form together with the group.
I know a great peer support group – how do I nominate them?
Groups will need to nominate themselves. Please tell them about these Awards and ask them to complete this form.
When does this form need to be filled in by?
The closing date to receive all nominations is midnight on Wednesday 20 October 2021.
How will the Awards be presented?
The panel and MCT will present the Awards during a special celebration event, which is to take place online mid-December 2021.
