Setting up an Email Peer Support Scheme

Abstract

This article opens with a review of current research on peer interventions and their capacity to impact on school climate and bystander behaviour, as well as to meet the aims of fostering altruism. The main focus of the article is a study of an email support group in an all-boys school in the United Kingdom. It was set up in response to an incident of physical bullying and after consultation it was found that email was the preferred mode of support. The article discusses the reasons for this and presents details of how the support system was set up and operated, and reports the outcomes. The authors conclude that email provides a good medium for peer support schemes in schools, as it increases anonymity, and reduces concerns about ‘grassing’.

Keywords:

• peer support
• boys' schools
• email support groups
• bullying

Additional information

Notes on contributors

NICKY HUTSON

Research Fellow