Peer support groups
What are peer support groups?
Peer support groups are when people who have similar experiences of something come together to support each other. Peer support usually:
- provides a safe space where you feel accepted and understood
- treats everyone’s experiences as being equally important
- involves both giving and receiving support
- allows you to choose which parts of your personal experience you talk about, seek support for and use to support others.
Peer support can be helpful on its own, or it can be something you try alongside treatments for a mental health concern – or even as a helpful way of getting support while you are on a waiting list for a treatment. Lots of people find peer support improves their wellbeing and their ability to cope.
What peer support groups are available?
We have listed below several peer support groups that are running in the local area and some of these are on campus. If a suitable peer support group isn’t listed here, you may want to look at our Local and National Services page where you can find lots of resources, including organisations who offer online peer support groups.
Autwell is a weekly, neurodivergent-only space to stim, rant, celebrate and support each other, with people who get it. Led by neurodivergent facilitators Ella and Jorik.
The group is for all students who are neurodivergent or think they might be.
Every Tuesday, 17:00-18:30; rotating between Penryn Campus and Falmouth Uni’s Woodlane campus.
For questions, email Ella at er565@exeter.ac.uk
Locations of Autwell wellbeing group for neurodivergent students
Penryn Campus 17:00-18:30
Tuesday 10 November - DM SEM I
Tuesday 24 November - DM SEM I
Tuesday 8 December - DM SEM I
DM is the Daphne Due Maurier Building, number 4 on this Penryn Campus map.
Falmouth Campus 17:00-18:30
Tuesday 3 November - SEM D
Tuesday 17 November SEM D
Tuesday 31 November SEM D
Tuesday 15 November SEM D
On , Sem D (SD) is near the IT & Digital Print Suite.
Feeling overwhelmed or stressed? Or just creative?
Pop into our Creative Wellbeing Space to take time out, unwind, try some creative arts and crafts or just chat to someone. The Creative Wellbeing Space is a holistic wellbeing space where we provide materials for arts and crafts and the opportunity to chat to someone.
These sessions are open to everyone regardless of their skills, and there is no expectation for output. We just ask that everyone be respectful so that the Creative Wellbeing Space can remain a supportive environment.
The spaces are weekly and alternate between Falmouth and Penryn Campus. Look out for them on the .
This scheme offers support for 1st year undergraduate students with a disability, pre-arrival and throughout the academic year, as part of the transition to university. These 'Mentees' will be matched with 'Mentors' (2nd-final year students with a disability) after A-level results day; but if you would like to get involved in the scheme at any stage as a Mentor or Mentee, please email Peer Support (peersupport@exeter.ac.uk).
You can find out more about this scheme and other peer mentoring schemes on offer, including discipline-specific schemes, on the Peer Support website.
Please note: While they will support you with this transition, please be aware that Mentors do not replace paid teaching staff and so please seek advice from the relevant support services at the University where needed.
offers free support to young women with mental health concerns aged 18-25 living in Cornwall. They have support groups that run weekly on Monday evenings from 18:30-20:00 and a drop-in hub in Redruth. They also offer and drop-in sessions from their hub in Redruth. Their local support groups are:
Falmouth - The Lighthouse Family Hub, Jubilee Road, TR11 2BB. What3words - farm.valid.bland
Redruth and Camborne – The Hub, Gateway Business Centre, Barncoose, TR15 3RQ
Truro – Lifetime Therapy, 77 Lemon Street, TR1 2PN
Follow @ for the latest sessions and activities.
is a peer support group for students who have been affected by bereavement. It’s an opportunity to be with people who understand the experience of loss.
The group usually meets on the third Thursday of each month, from 5.30pm-7.30pm, alternating between the Falmouth and Penryn campuses, so either:
- In the Multifaith Chaplaincy room in the Fox Building on Falmouth University's Campus in Woodlane, or
- At the Multifaith Chaplaincy in Tremough Barton Cottage 8 on the Penryn Campus.
These are cosy and inviting spaces.
The dates for 2026 are as follows:
19 November - Falmouth Campus
17 December - Penryn Campus
Email Gemma from the Multifaith Chaplaincy team if you need directions or have any questions, she will be happy to help: chaplaincy@fxplus.ac.uk
Man Down offer confidential and non-judgemental peer support in an informal, safe and relaxed environment for men who are struggling with any kind of mental health concerns. Their talking group meetings are free and for men aged over 18.
Find out more about on their website.
Their meetings are fortnightly from 19:00-21:00, and there are the following local groups:
Falmouth – The Dracaena Centre, TR11 2ES, Thursdays.
Redruth – Redruth Community Centre, 9a Chapel St, TR15 1AN, Thursdays.
Truro – 77 Lemon Street, TR1 2PN, Sundays.
Helston – The Old Cattle Market, Porthleven Road, TR13 0SR, meets Tuesdays.
See the for the next session dates.