Table 1 Characteristics of the nine peer support projects
From: Peer support during pregnancy and early parenthood: a qualitative study of models and perceptions
Primary target group | Location | Type of peer support | Period of support | Support to access services | Practical/material support | Set-up | Host | Initial Training for volunteers | Current Funding | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Women with very complex needs | London | Small team of volunteers | Pregnancy, at birth, to 12 weeks postnatal (longer if needed) | yes | yes | 1996 | Local charity | 40 h (8 sessions) | Charitable |
2 | Women in local area | London | 1:1 | Pregnancy to 3 months postnatal (longer if needed) | yes | yes | 2006 | Local community development charity | 36 h | Public |
3 | First time mothers in local area | London | 1:1 | Pregnancy to 8 months postnatal | yes | 2012 | Local community development charity | 72 h (18 sessions) - City & Guilds level 3 | Partly charitable, partly public | |
4 | Women receiving maternity care from a specific hospital trust | London | 1:1 | Pregnancy to 12 months postnatal | yes | yes | 2012 | Local community development charity | 8 h (4 sessions) | Charitable |
5 | Refugees and asylum seekers | North of England | 1:1, 2:1 | Pregnancy to 2 years postnatal | yes | yes | 2011 | National charity | 30 h – Open College Network Level 2 | Public; ended 2014 |
6 | Young women and women experiencing difficult circumstances | North of England | 1:1, groups | Pregnancy to 2 years postnatal | yes | 2012 | National charity. In 2014 became an independent Community Incorporated Organisation. | 30 h – Open College Network Level 2 | Public; then charitable. | |
7 | Women from minority ethnic communities; young women | North of England | 1:1, groups | Pregnancy to 2 years postnatal | yes | yes | 2011 | National charity | 30 h – Open College Network Level 2 | Public; ended 2014. |
8 | Women living with HIV | London | 1:1, group | Pregnancy and short period postnatal; 6–12 visits | yes | yes | 2010 | National charity | 36 h (6 sessions) –Open College Network Level 2 | Charitable |
9 | Women with depression/anxiety | West of England | 1:1, group | Group has 12 sessions; 1:1 for 6 weeks (more if needed) | 2011 | Local charity | In development | Charitable |