Carer's Peer Support and Ambassador Service

Lot 1 Carer Peer Support Service: A community-based support service that enables unpaid carers to connect with and support one another through a range of peer-led opportunities. The service aims to reduce isolation, improve wellbeing and resilience, facilitate the sharing of experience and knowledge, and help carers access emotional, practical and social support throughout their caring journey.

Key Functions: • Facilitate and sustain peer support opportunities for carers. • Reduce social isolation and improve emotional wellbeing. • Promote mutual support, learning and sharing of lived experience between carers. • Support the development of carer-led groups, buddying arrangements and online communities. • Provide access to both general and condition-specific peer support. • Encourage self-sustaining, carer-led networks and community connections. • Ensure support is accessible to carers across different localities, including rural communities and carers with specialist needs. Lot 2 Carer Ambassadors: A programme of trained volunteers with lived experience of caring who acts as a link between carers, communities, service providers and commissioners.

Carer Ambassadors promote carer awareness, share information and support, gather and represent carers' views, and help develop peer support opportunities across Devon. They act as advocates for carers' experiences, contribute to service improvement activities, and support engagement with local organisations and communities. Key Functions: • Provide information, signposting and informal support to carers. • Represent carers' views and feedback to service providers and commissioners. • Promote carer awareness within local communities and organisations. • Support the development and promotion of peer support groups and activities. • Participate in service evaluation, mystery shopping and quality assurance. • Maintain knowledge of local services, support pathways and carer issues. • Act as a specialist ambassador where appropriate (e.g. mental health, autism, learning disability).