The Lossiemouth Peer-Support Café began with two drop-in sessions at Lossie Youth Café, facilitated by Green Ribbons and Gillian Collie Counselling. Those first meetings were used to meet local people and hear what they wanted from the group before the café moved into sessions focused on learning how to become peer supporters.
From drop-ins to peer support
Listen first
The first two drop-ins gave people an opportunity to meet and to shape what they wanted from the group.
Begin learning together
The next stage introduced group sessions on becoming peer supporters, with people sharing their experiences and ideas about supporting themselves and others.
Keep it connected to everyday life
The public message around the café deliberately focused on ordinary difficulties: getting out of bed, preparing children for school, leaving the house or making a phone call that feels hard to face. Peer support was presented as something grounded in those everyday experiences rather than only in moments of crisis.
What one person said
“walking into the group made me realise I was not alone. I feel motivated and keen to support myself and others with healthy peer support”.
Local support behind the café
The initiative was also supported by The Lossie 2-3 Group and Third Sector Interface Moray. Their involvement formed part of the local network around the early development of the café.
