Sometimes you just want to speak to someone who knows exactly what you’re going through. Someone who has personal experience of living with a muscle wasting or weakening condition or is supporting a family member who lives with one, and will listen without judgement.
Types of peer support
No matter what your situation, we can pair you with the right volunteer. Our peer support volunteers are people with lived experience of:
- Having a muscle wasting or weakening condition themselves
- Being a partner to someone with a condition
- Being the parent of a child, or children, with a condition
- Being the child of someone with a condition
- Being a young adult (18 – 30) with a muscle wasting or weakening condition.
You must be over 18 to access this service. If you are between 14 and 17 years of age you can apply for our young adult mentoring service.
More information
How does peer support work?
If you would like to be paired with one of our peer support volunteers, fill out this form and we’ll match you with the most suitable volunteer for your specific situation.
Once we’ve found a match, we’ll contact you to let you know more about who your peer support volunteer will be. If you’re happy with the match, we’ll then pass on your details, and they will email you.
What to expect during your first contact
We know it can feel daunting to speak with a stranger about something so personal. Our peer support volunteers are trained to help you feel as comfortable as possible. You can share as little or as much as you like.
Everything you say is strictly confidential and is between yourself and your peer support volunteer unless the volunteer has any concerns about your safety or wellbeing.
Ongoing support
The way you connect with your peer volunteer is up to you – you could email, call or video call.
You can have as many or as few contacts as you like. It may be that you have a specific challenge that you’d like support with or you may want ongoing emotional support.
Our peer support volunteers are here for you, to support you at your own pace.
“When my son was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2013, I felt my already small world had got so much smaller. At the time of diagnosis, I knew nothing about Duchenne – I was scared and lonely. I wanted to become a peer support volunteer to hopefully offer a little understanding to those going through the same diagnosis”
Vicky
Peer support volunteer
Get peer support
Fill in our form and we’ll match you with the most suitable volunteer for your specific situation.
Sign up to be a peer support volunteer
We’re looking for people who have lived with or supported someone with a muscle wasting or weakening condition to join us as a Peer Support Volunteer. You could provide vital support for people and families by talking, listening and sharing your own experiences – usually by email, text or phone. And we will provide all the support, training and guidance you need.