How do you sell peer support to stakeholders and funders?

1 Know your audience

Before you pitch peer support to any stakeholder or funder, you need to know who they are, what they care about, and what they expect from you. Do some research on their background, values, goals, and priorities. Find out what kind of language, evidence, and examples they respond to. Tailor your message and approach to suit their needs and interests. For example, if you are talking to a policy maker, you may want to emphasize the cost-effectiveness and outcomes of peer support. If you are talking to a clinician, you may want to highlight the complementary and collaborative role of peer support in the service delivery system.

2 Define peer support

One of the challenges of selling peer support is that it can mean different things to different people. There is no one universal definition or model of peer support that applies to all contexts and settings. Therefore, you need to define what peer support means to you and how it works in your specific situation. Explain the core principles, values, and practices of peer support, such as mutuality, empowerment, recovery orientation, and trauma-informed care. Provide concrete examples of how peer support is delivered and what outcomes it achieves. Avoid using jargon or acronyms that may confuse or alienate your audience.

3 Share stories and data

Stories and data are both powerful tools to demonstrate the value and impact of peer support. Stories can capture the human and emotional aspects of peer support, such as how it helps people to cope, connect, and grow. Data can provide the factual and quantitative evidence of peer support, such as how it reduces hospitalizations, improves satisfaction, and saves money. Use both stories and data to support your claims and arguments for peer support. Choose stories and data that are relevant, credible, and compelling for your audience. For example, you can use testimonials from peers, case studies from programs, or research findings from studies.

4 Address challenges and concerns

Another challenge of selling peer support is that it may face some resistance or skepticism from some stakeholders and funders who may have doubts or misconceptions about peer support. For example, they may question the quality, safety, or effectiveness of peer support. They may also worry about the role conflict, boundary issues, or ethical dilemmas that may arise from peer support. You need to address these challenges and concerns proactively and respectfully. Acknowledge the potential risks and limitations of peer support, but also emphasize the strengths and opportunities. Provide solutions and examples of how peer support can overcome these challenges and concerns. For example, you can show how peer support is supervised, evaluated, and integrated into the service delivery system.

5 Build relationships and networks

Selling peer support is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process that requires building relationships and networks with stakeholders and funders. You need to establish trust, rapport, and credibility with them, and maintain regular communication and feedback. You also need to collaborate and coordinate with other peer support providers and advocates, and join or create coalitions and alliances that can amplify your voice and influence. By building relationships and networks, you can create a supportive and conducive environment for peer support to thrive and grow.

6 Showcase your passion and expertise

Finally, one of the most effective ways to sell peer support is to showcase your passion and expertise. You are the best ambassador and spokesperson for peer support, because you have the lived experience, knowledge, and skills that make peer support unique and valuable. You can convey your passion and expertise through your tone, style, and confidence. You can also use your own story and journey as an example of how peer support has helped you and others. By showcasing your passion and expertise, you can inspire and persuade stakeholders and funders to support and invest in peer support.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?