Peer Mentor Service, Newport & Monmouthshire

Who we are

The CRI Peer Mentor Service in Newport & Monmouthshire was set up to provide an improved service for people with substance misuse needs.

Peer mentors enhance the service provided and ensure, as far as possible, that the full range of people’s needs are addressed and met.

Peer mentors are trained to support new and former service users through the experience of trying to overcome addiction and make changes in their lives.

They help service users sustain their commitment to change and to successfully meet the challenges they face.

CRI’s Newport and Monmouthshire Peer Mentor service has just celebrated its first anniversary. The project has gone from strength to strength in its first year. To date the service has 58 peer mentors, of which six have gained full-time employment and another six have entered further education.

At present the service is actively working with over 40 agencies, and these partnerships continue to increase. The service has had positive visits from the Welsh Assembly Government, the Home Office and an Assembly Minister.

'It was a very encouraging and positive experience to meet the Peer Mentors and visit the project. As a Member of the Welsh Assembly I know the great harm caused by alcohol and illegal drugs – health problems, crime, family breakdown, unemployment, homelessness, misery and despair. Given the scale of these problems and the large number of people needing help, it is very good to know there are trained peer mentors available to provide support, advice and guidance, and that these include many service users and ex-service users who know the issues from their own first hand experience and have the crucial credibility to engage with people with problems. I found the peer mentor’s commitment and determination to use their own bad experiences for the benefit of others very encouraging and inspiring.'

John Griffiths AM, Newport East

Over the last quarter the Newport and Monmouthshire Peer Mentor Service has pro-actively marketed the service and provided presentations at the following conferences and forums:

• Service user conference at the Community Farm, Cwmbran
• GSSMS conference in Newport • Mentoring & Befriending Foundation’s launch of 'Supporting Life’s Journey' at Cardiff Millennium Centre
• WAG peer mentor conference at the Future Inn, Cardiff

At the annual Wales CRI staff conference the service received the ‘Service User Involvement’ award.

The service has developed and continues to provide drug awareness training for Newport City Council’s Assisted Employment Service and facilitated groups for the Probation Service.