Scottish Recovery Network

10/06/2026

📣 New resource launch!

How do you evaluate peer support in a way that feels meaningful, creative and true to its values?

The Adaptable Outcome Map was co-designed over two years of conversations and collaboration to help people, services and organisations do exactly that.

Read the latest blog by our Evaluation and Policy Coordinator, Iona MacTaggart, to learn more and download the free tool 👇
https://bit.ly/AOMLaunch

09/06/2026

🧩 Join us for a new year of conversation, collaboration and learning through the Peer Connects 2026/27 programme.

This year's programme brings together people from across Scotland to strengthen, develop and champion peer support practice. Through a mix of webinars and in-person events, we'll explore what helps peer support thrive - from leadership and lived experience to building and sustaining a supported peer workforce.

Whether you're working in a peer role, supporting peer workers, or helping shape mental health services, policy or strategy, Peer Connects offers a space to connect, reflect, share learning and grow practice together.

🧡 Ready to explore what's coming up? Take a look through our interactive brochure and discover the events, themes and opportunities available throughout the year.

🌀 View the Peer Connects 2026/27 brochure: https://bit.ly/PeerConnects2627HeyZine

Created with the Heyzine flipbook maker

08/06/2026

📣 Our June newsletter is out now!

We're excited to share two new resources developed through collaboration and co-design:

🧩 Putting the Pieces Together - a new framework to support the development, delivery and sustainability of mental health peer support in Scotland.

🗺️ The Adaptable Outcome Map - a creative and flexible tool to support meaningful evaluation that's grounded in peer support values.

Plus you'll find the latest peer support news, opportunities and updates from across Scotland.

Take a look: https://bit.ly/JunNews2026

08/06/2026

Scottish Recovery Network welcomes the return of Maree Todd the new Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs and looks forward to working together to keep lived experience and peer support at the heart of mental health transformation.

As committed partners in delivering Strategic Action 2.3 of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and also the Creating Hope Together Su***de Prevention Strategy, we are excited to continue collaborating with the Minister and colleagues across government, services and communities.

We welcome the Minister’s longstanding recognition of the value of lived experience and peer support in creating a recovery-focused mental health system (we love this photo of the Minister launching the Peer Recovery Hub in 2024!). Through our 10-year strategy, Catalysts for Change, we champion lived experience leadership and peer support as essential drivers of lasting change, helping to build a system rooted in hope, recovery, meaningful participation and connection.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Tom Arthur MSP for his support and engagement with our work, particularly around the role of peer support in su***de prevention. We greatly appreciated his contribution as a panel member at our Creating Hope with Peer Support national event and his involvement in our Lived Experience Leading the Way film. We wish him every success in his new role as Minister for Business and Fair Work.

Finally, we congratulate all newly appointed Cabinet Secretaries, Ministers and MSPs. We look forward to working with colleagues across Parliament and beyond to advance mental health and wellbeing in Scotland through lived experience leadership, peer support and recovery.

Read Catalysts for Change https://scottishrecovery.net/insight-report/catalysts-for-change/

05/06/2026

What makes peer support different?

For Lindsey Williamson from The Hive Kirkcaldy, it's the power of lived experience and authentic connection.

🗨️ "You're sitting across from somebody and you're able to say, I understand. I know how you feel."

In this short film, Lindsey reflects on the role peer support can play in su***de prevention and why being understood can make such a difference.

👉 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53ZgCddox00

Lindsey Williamson, Operations Manager at The Hive Kirkcaldy talks ...

04/06/2026

Brilliant to see this fantastic example of peer support in action at Glasgow Clyde College featured in The Sunday Post 🧡

"How's Yersel? is a students-for-students men's mental health group created to give students a safe space to talk about life, make friends and support one another."

A lot of hard work and innovation from the students who have embraced the power of peer support. Some absolutely epic hoodies as well!

Read more in Shory's post below 👇
https://bit.ly/HowsYerselLinkedIn

Woke up proud to see “How’s Yersel” featured in yesterday’s edition of the The Sunday Post. A big shout out to my good pal and colleague, Sean, who did a great job representing our group and sharing what we’re all about. How’s Yersel is a students-for-students men’s mental health group...

03/06/2026

The team at Scottish Recovery Network are proud to be supporting the Wee Pink Dot campaign. 💗

Peer support reminds us that meaningful connections can make a real difference. Sometimes it's a conversation, a shared experience, or simply knowing someone is there to listen.

The Wee Pink Dot is a simple reminder that small acts of support matter.

Find out more about the campaign from SAMH: https://www.samh.org.uk/about-us/news-and-blogs/introducing-the-wee-pink-dot

03/06/2026

This September we're partnering with Borders Care Voice for this peer support learning and development opportunity 😍

We strongly believe, and our networks and partners tell us, that the development of peer support is a two-fold opportunity:

Developing peer support is a way to transform culture and practice in mental health services. Embracing an approach focused on the whole person, which is trauma responsive, human rights based and supports recovery.

Peer support can play a significant role in improving peoples access to, experience of, and positive outcomes from mental health and wellbeing services and supports.

🙌 Ready to connect, share & learn?

We’re excited to offer a FREE Peer2Peer training session in partnership with Scottish Recovery Network and Borders Care Voice 💬

⏰ 1st September | 10am – 3pm
📍 Galashiels

This interactive, full-day session is all about peer support – with plenty of chances to chat, reflect and learn together 🧠✨

We’ll cover:
👉 The history of peer support
👉 What makes it unique
👉 The values that make it work

👥 Open to staff, volunteers, carers and anyone supporting others across the health & social care sector
⚠️ Be quick! Spaces are limited and this one’s always in high demand 👀

👉 Book your place now:

02/06/2026

We've got a couple of exciting launches lined up for this week 👀

Our next newsletter will be the first place to hear about two new resources designed to support peer support practice and learning in Scotland.

Want to be among the first to see them? Sign up today: https://bit.ly/ScotRecoveryNews

01/06/2026

One week until Moray Wellbeing Hub's Principles of Peer Support session!

This 2-hour, fully funded learning opportunity explores how shared experience can strengthen wellbeing and recovery.

It looks at lived experience and peer values such as authenticity and mutuality, and how these can be applied in everyday roles.

Ideal for anyone interested in peer approaches across health, social care, and community settings - or for those looking to build more supportive connections.

Booking and details here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/moraywellbeinghub/2217725