Peerfest17, Bristol
Peerfest is an annual national event, started in 2013 and supported by Mind - the Mental Health Charity. Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They also campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding of mental health, in England and Wales.
The aim of Peerfest is to celebrate the importance of peer support. A peer is a valuable part of the charities network where in a peer uses their own experiences of mental health to help others, using community groups, mentoring, self-help and support groups to connect with each other.
A nationwide tender has been used for the last three years for Peerfest with Bristol Independent Mental Health Network and Changes Bristol winning the right to host and deliver Peerfest17. The event was held on Monday 9th October 2017 at We The Curious (formerly known as @Bristol), Bristol.
Approximately 270 peers came together for a varied, fun and inspirational event. There was a mix of stalls, interesting workshops, creative and interactive activities and a thought-provoking debate. It also included The Marsh Awards, recognising excellence in mental health peer support. The whole event is a chance for peers to network and share their knowledge.