Peer Support Group Facilitator

Do you identify as someone with lived or living experience of mental-health challenges and want to make a real difference in the lives of others with similar experiences? 

Kaleidoscope is welcoming new volunteer Peer Support Facilitators to help co-facilitate our weekly online support groups.

We currently have 3 weekly groups:
1. Student group (for postsecondary students)
2. Early Psychosis Peer Recovery Network group (for people with lived and living experience of psychosis)
3. General Group (open to everyone who identifies as having lived/living experience of mental health challenges of any kind!)

This is a meaningful, community-rooted volunteer role where your story, your experiences, and your insight can genuinely help others feel less alone.

Please note: you do not need to have a formal diagnosis of any mental illness to apply.



What Makes This Opportunity Unique?

Since 2010, Kaleidoscope has been creating safe(r)* spaces for people to speak honestly about their mental health with others who've had similar experiences, and help reduce the stigma people may have internalized about their experiences. 

Many people come to us feeling isolated or overwhelmed. In our groups, participants find connection, belonging, and solidarity through shared lived experience. Groups are not therapy or treatment. They are collaborative, compassionate spaces where people talk openly, share coping strategies, and support one another as equals.

Facilitators and participants connect as peers on an equal playing field. We believe transformative healing happens through curiosity, relationality, mutuality, shared humanity, and supportive relationships, rather than on professional credentials or more "formal" experience as experts in any given field. 

As a volunteer support group facilitator, you’ll never facilitate alone. All of our volunteer facilitators co-facilitate with at least two other experienced support group facilitators. You’ll have support before, during and after every session with the facilitators, and an experienced team to support you as you embark on your facilitator journey.

Kaleidoscope values Opportunity, with many of our volunteers moving into education and careers in social work, counselling, healthcare, and community advocacy.



About the Volunteer Role:

Peer Support Facilitators help create a welcoming and grounded environment for participants. Responsibilities include:

A commitment to 90 minutes per week, including a 60-minute groups (online via Zoom), plus 15 minutes before group and 15 minutes after group to check-in and debrief, respectively, with co-facilitators.

Creating a welcoming, safe(r) space, introducing guidelines, and supporting a respectful flow of conversation.

Listening and staying after group to support participants who may need resources or extra support, as needed.


Training & Support You Will Receive. 

We offer structured training for all facilitators, including:

Active listening and communication skills
Group facilitation techniques
Talking about and Responding to Suicide 
Boundary-setting and self-reflection skills

After training, new facilitators shadow experienced peers before co-facilitating with 1 partner. You will never be asked to do anything before you’re ready. Ongoing mentorship, check-ins, and community gatherings are all part of the role.

We also ask our new facilitators to attend at least 3 of our existing support groups, which you can register for here: https://www.the-kaleidoscope.com/support-groups

After attending those 3 sessions, you're ready to take our mandatory 10 hour facilitator training, which is next happening from 10am-3pm (Pacific) on September 12 and 13, 2026.

You can register for FREE by selecting the Energy Exchange option here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1982741950548?aff=oddtdtcreator


Who Should Apply? This role may be a great fit if you:

have lived or living experience with mental-health challenges
enjoy holding space for others
feel grounded enough in your own wellness to support a group
want to contribute to a welcoming, peer-led community
are comfortable joining / leading groups online (or want to gain experience)
want to gain experience in a peer support role to see whether this time of engagement is compatible and congruent 

In terms of schedule and commitment, we are seeking a commitment of 4 months after taking the peer support training. If you would like to stay longer than 4 months, you are welcome to do so!

* We call them "safe{r}" spaces because we acknowledge that there is no such things as a truly safe space, but there are things that can be done to move in that direction.

** We say lived and living experience because, for some people, the main part of their challenges is in the past, while others still experience challenges today