Peer Support Groups

“This is the sort of group I have been looking for. I feel less alone in how I feel.”

Peer Support is a space where we:

• Bring together people with shared experiences
• Provide a confidential space where you feel accepted and understood
• Treat everyone’s experiences as being equally important
• Empower people to give and receive support

These groups can help you to:

• Connect with others and give you a sense of belonging
• Find joy and share humour with others
• Socialise and meet other people
• Open up to others
• Build your self-esteem and confidence
• Deal with day-to-day tasks
• Find new ideas and approaches that others have found helpful
• Find support in a non-medicalised setting
• Feel more hopeful about the future

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, you’re not alone – and you don’t have to face it alone.

Our Anxiety Peer Support Group is open to anyone aged 18+ in the Harrogate District who would like to share their experiences and explore ways of managing anxiety in a safe, friendly, and understanding space.

You don’t need a diagnosis to join us. Whether you’re dealing with Generalised Anxiety, Health Anxiety, OCD, Social Anxiety, Panic Attacks, or just feeling persistently anxious – you are welcome here.

You might benefit from the group if:

• Your anxiety feels constant or overwhelming
• You avoid situations because they make you anxious
• Your fears feel out of proportion or hard to control
• You regularly experience physical symptoms, such as panic attacks
• Anxiety is stopping you from enjoying everyday life

Our group is all about peer support – listening, sharing, and learning from each other’s experiences in a respectful and confidential setting.

Where: The Acorn Centre, 101a Station Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1HB

When: Once a month – see our calendar of events here

Booking: Please contact us in advance to attend.

“Everyone is very respectful of each other and listens and validates each-others experiences and feelings.” 

“Mutual support, empathy, understanding, concern, non-judgemental, open, honest, constructive, positive, inclusive. All these terms, for me, sum up the group dynamics, thus creating a very supportive environment in which to share views, thoughts and ideas frankly and openly.”

Our Neurodivergent Peer Support Group is a friendly, safe space for adults age 18+ in the Harrogate District to connect, share experiences, and support one another in understanding and embracing neurodiversity.

You don’t need a diagnosis to take part. Whether you identify with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, learning differences, or relate to neurodivergence in any form – this group is for you.

You might find this group helpful if you:

• Struggle with focus, organisation, or attention
• Experience sensory overload or feel overwhelmed in certain environments
• Want to explore your identity as a neurodivergent person

Our group is all about peer support – listening, sharing, and learning from each other’s experiences to manage day-to-day challenges in a respectful and confidential setting.

Where: Acorn Centre, 101a Station Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1HB

When: Once a month – see our calendar of events here

Booking: Please contact us in advance to attend.

“I love that you have put on a group specially to support people who are autistic, sadly there aren’t enough groups around specially catered for us, it usually is people with additional learning disabilities as well, so this was amazing to finally have that.”

“Really supportive of each other. Great to bounce ideas off others and have a joint project. Always positive feedback for each other. Blaise has good ideas and a good structure to the group and is always friendly and understanding of what we all need from the group.”

If you’re living with long-standing emotional or relationship difficulties, you are not alone. Our Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) Peer Support Group offers a safe and welcoming space to connect with other adults who understand what it’s like to live with these challenges.

This group is for adults aged 18+ from Harrogate District who may have a diagnosis of personality disorder or who experience intense emotional distress, difficulties in relationships, and long-term mental health struggles rooted in early life experiences.

Please note: This is not a clinical intervention or therapy group. It is a peer-led space for mutual support, sharing experiences, and learning from one another in a non-judgemental and confidential setting.

What do we mean by Complex Emotional Needs (CEN)?

People with complex emotional needs often experience:

• Intense and rapidly changing emotions
• Difficulties in maintaining relationships
• Deep feelings of insecurity or fear
• Ongoing struggles with self-esteem and self-worth
• A history of trauma, neglect, or emotional distress

You may also experience self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or a sense that life is unmanageable at times. CEN is not a diagnosis – it’s a way of recognising the impact of emotional distress on your mental health and daily life.

About the Group

This is a peer support group – a space where you can:

• Be listened to without judgement
• Share your experiences with others who truly understand
• Learn practical ways to manage difficult emotions and relationships
• Feel less alone in what you’re going through

All conversations are confidential, and the group is guided by the principles of safety, care and respect for everyone’s wellbeing.

Where: Acorn Centre, 101a Station Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1HB

When: Monthly – starting 1st July 2025, 1:00–2:30pm

Booking: Please contact us to book your place.