Track Record
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English + Cantonese
Our Initiative launched in January 2022. With continued operations throughout 2023. We host our free peer support groups in person at The Hive Wan Chai.
Though initially in English we now offer peer support in Cantonese.
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Sharing stories
Peer support is when individuals with similar lived experiences come together to share their stories. This allows for genuine understanding, compassion, and empathy.
While hosts are trained to facilitate and safeguard, they are not mental health professionals, and even if they are that is not their role in a peer support group. While we may share what has worked for us, we do not tell attendees what to do or provide advice.
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Open Spaces
We create space for attendees to share and connect.
Our training is co-created with our clinical advisors, and we have robust safeguards in place if hosts feel an attendee needs further support.
Beneficiaries
Number of free Peer Support Groups in 2023: 46
Beneficiaries Reached in 2023: 389 individuals, while we do not have data on the income of attendees many report feeling unable to access private care due to their financial constraints, and that was their primary motivator in accessing our support groups.
In total we have hosted 90 groups since inception for over 600 attendees
We run donation-based community movement classes.
We have been working with those experiencing financial hardship through our innovative Move Partners programme.
Move Partners is a collaborative project between our charity and fitness professionals to provide accessible movement classes to encourage exercise for mental health. These fitness and movement classes are provided at low cost and for free for those experiencing financial hardship.
In 2023 528 people attended a community class, 121 of these attended for free due to financial hardship. Attendees on sign up must self-report that they are experiencing financial hardship to attend the classes for free. We have found the Move Partners programme to be a successful funnel with one quarter of attendees going on to access our peer support groups after joining our movement classes.
Feedback from beneficiaries
100% of attendees would strongly recommend or recommend our peer support groups
78% of felt very comfortable sharing their experiences within the group
64% have made new friends
68% feel much more connected to others
73% feel their ability to open up to others has improved
64% feel that they have more empathy for others
64% feel that they have more ideas to help them to cope
73% feel more hopeful about their situation
Results from our Impact Survey, to gather feedback from participants for ongoing improvements. Based on 22 anonymously and randomly surveyed participants From September to November in 2023.
What People Are Saying
“Valuable friendships when I needed them most”
“Nice to feel confident that there are people who would listen and not judge”
“In HK, where mental health support is so expensive, it's really great to see a free resource for anyone who is struggling.”
“It has helped me to become a better communicator and to ask for what I need”