Virtual welfare to hit colleges
Worcester College is piloting peer support via MSN Messenger in an attempt to widen access.
The welfare programme, which began twelve years ago and has committees in 21 colleges, has introduced this innovation after nearly a year's hard work focussed on drawing up detailed guidelines for its use.
The pilot, which began on Tuesday and will continue weekly, is the culmination of efforts from both Worcester and Keble College welfare panels and their co-ordinators, but particularly that of Worcester Welfare Representative Lynne Paddock.
Methodology, although by no means perfected, has been determined on the basis of 'listening exercises' that emulate those practised in the mandatory 30-hour peer support training, as well as measures to ensure anonymity and confidentiality.
Lynne Paddock told The OxStu: "I hope it will encourage more people to use peer support... at the moment it is underused because people find it daunting."
She describes the medium as a "halfway house" between email and face-to-face surgeries "with the advantages of both", but recognises the complications it brings, given the added ambiguities.
The first session occurred without use, but Paddock says this is no surprise, "as very few people attend surgeries." She remains optimistic that MSN Peer Support will indeed "widen access" and be popular with freshers next year.
Co-ordinator of the Peer Support Programme, Anne Ford, told The OxStu that she was "really impressed by how much hard work and consideration they've put in," and is "excited" by the innovation. She looks forward "to being able to evaluate its progress."
A number of colleges have expressed an interest, and watch with anticipation. However, as The OxStu's front page reveals today, welfare provision via this medium may not be entirely confidential.
27th May 2004