Foyer Comrades
Peer support network
Foyer Comrades is our peer support system that connects service staff with colleagues from across the Foyer network to build valuable relationships and work together to improve practice. It’s available for all staff within the Foyer network.
Comrades connects you with colleagues from across the Foyer Federation Network. How comrades spend their time together is up to them – from coaching to sharing problems, asking advice or coming up with new ideas.
You’ll be paired with someone in a similar role for six months, after six months you'll have choice to opt out or we’ll rotate comrade pairs to enable you to make two valuable connections over the year.
Comrades can decide between them how often they meet and their method of connecting. This flexible approach means pairs can work their meetings around existing commitments. As far as possible, we’ll try to link you with people based on your priorities and interests.
We will check in with you after three months to see how you are getting on. We'll give you positive prompts or you can use the conversation starters tool in our information pack. When six months is up, we’ll hold a catch-up meeting to share thoughts and re-pair those wishing to continue.
For further enquiries please contact [email protected]
Hear what Comrades have to say:
"I feel the comrade meetings have been very positive. We have discussed our young people and their struggles through lockdown and how staff have come through challenges. My comrade set up a meeting for us with her engagement officer which was informative and shared lots of ideas."
"Every time we have spoke it has been positive and helpful. With being new to this role, it was great to speak to someone with experience and talk about day to day struggles / positives to work on and how another business runs their Foyer. Not to have a structure of the conversation has helped – it means we can have a little talk of the latest updates from our service and know that we are not alone."
"I have found it really useful! It’s been nice to be able to offload to someone outside the organisation, but to someone who actually understands the organisation, role and client group.
"I think it’s a really positive way to discuss areas of improvement or success stories but with someone outside of the organisation but that also understands the job!"
"I have really enjoyed the meetings we have had so far and each time there have been tangible things I have come away with to action."