Volunteering as an online peer group facilitator

Would you like to act as a voluntary facilitator in a Talking about loneliness online peer group? You can do this meaningful voluntary work from your own living room!

The aim of the Talking about loneliness online peer groups is to reduce loneliness. In the group, participants can share experiences and think about solutions to reduce loneliness together with other people going through the same thing.

As an online peer group facilitator, you support and steer the discussion using ready-made material. Volunteer online peer group instructors always work in pairs. The groups meet for eight weeks either as open chat groups or closed meetings where you can also use the video and audio functions. You can also host groups in English, Swedish or easy Finnish.

How can I become an facilitator for a peer group?

You can become a Talking about loneliness group facilitator by signing up for the volunteer task. Facilitators for peer groups are required to complete the friend course and the Online helper at the Finnish Red Cross self-study course. We also provide additional instructions in video format.

The duration of the friend course is three hours, and you can take part in the course either online or in person. The friend course gives you basic information about volunteering as a friend. You will also gain insight into loneliness and how friend visitor activities can help alleviate loneliness. 

The Online helper at the Finnish Red Cross self-study course provides tools for interacting with people online. The course will also present various forms of online help at the Red Cross and discuss challenging situations from the perspective of online helping.

Who can become an online group instructor?

You can become a peer group facilitator if you have the ability to actively listen, understand and appreciate different views and to react flexibly and constructively to different situations in the group. Personal experience of loneliness is not necessary, but it may be useful. It is also useful to have previous group instructor experience.