Finding peer support training

[Thatsnotmyfairy]

Hi all

I wonder if anyone could offer me some advice on how I can get onto a peer support course.

I've spoken to the BF co-ordinator at my local hospital. They have one course starting soon but it's full up. There may be another one operating next year but I don't think it's been confirmed yet.

BfN have been really helpful but they don't currently have anything running in my area. There is the possibility of getting onto something that is about a half hour drive away some time next year but that's not confirmed yet either.

I know that the HVs at my local BF drop in are eager for help and I'm really keen to do it! They've had to restrict the group to new mums only as they were so busy and the manager at the local children's centre where the group is held said they were really keen to set up another group run by peer supporters.

Does anyone know if there are any other options available to me to do peer support training if I can't get onto an NHS of BfN course? It seems such a shame that there's a group close to my home that really need peer supporters but I can't find any local training opportunities.

Many thanks in advance, I'm working today so please excuse if I don't get back on here for a while.

[TheShockoftheTwo]

La Leche League and NCT both run breastfeeding support training. However not sure what the commitment is etc? Am also keen to do it, but planning to also head back to work at some point.

[www.theshockofthetwo.blogspot.com

[clouiseg]

I am currently training as a Peer Support Worker. I accessed it through my BF group and ours is run by La Leche. Contact your local PCT, La Leche, HV,and try surestart if you have a centre local to you. The La Leche is run from 12-2:30 at our centre on a weekly basis. However, anyone who misses will have the opportunity to catch up with our course, not sure about other areas?

Good luck!

[Thatsnotmyfairy]

I think the NCT training course is longer and more in-depth than the peer support course which I think is 12 weeks. But I'll give La Leche a try tomorrow and I've left a message for the HV who runs our local BF drop in to see if she can give me any other pointers. Thanks for the ideas

[elkiedee]

No suggestions but hope you get on something. I really wanted to do the peer support training here but there were far more applications than places on the course, I'm hoping that I'll be able to do a planned course in the New Year.