Friendships & Staying Connected…
Guidance for members
Our groups, events and social activities are about connection, reducing loneliness and creating opportunities for people to possibly build supportive connections/networks/friendships.
We are happy for friendships to develop between members, both within and outside GHU activities. At the same time, it is important to remember that friendships are personal relationships and that GHU cannot be responsible for what happens between members outside of groups/activities.
This guidance is intended to help everyone stay safe, maintain healthy boundaries and enjoy positive friendships.
1. Friendships are encouraged
We want people to have opportunities to build genuine friendships and social connections.
-
You are free to become friends with other members if you both want to.
-
Nobody should feel pressured to become friends with another member.
-
You can choose how much contact you have with another person and can change your mind at any time.
Friendships/personal relationships are not managed or supervised by GHU.
2. Sharing contact details
Think carefully before sharing your phone number, email address or social media details with another member.
-
Only share contact details if you feel comfortable doing so.
-
You can say no if someone asks for your contact details.
-
You do not have to give a reason for saying no.
-
-
Consider checking your privacy settings on social media before connecting with someone.
-
Think carefully before sharing your home address, workplace or other information that could identify where you live or work.
Remember that once you have shared contact details, this is at you own risk. GHU cannot control how another person uses them.
3. Sharing personal information
Peer support groups can involve people sharing personal and sometimes very private experiences.
We ask everyone to respect the privacy of other members.
Please:
-
Do not share another member’s personal information with people outside the group without their permission.
-
Think carefully about what personal information you choose to share with another member.
-
Remember that another member is a peer, not a professional counsellor or therapist, and there is no guarantee that information shared with them will remain completely confidential.
-
Avoid sharing information about other members, even if you believe you are doing so to help them.
-
Do not take screenshots, photographs or recordings of group conversations or online group activity without permission.
4. Respecting boundaries
Healthy friendships involve respecting each other’s boundaries.
Everyone has the right to:
-
Decide how much contact they want.
-
Take time to respond to messages.
-
Say no to invitations.
-
Change their mind about meeting or staying in contact.
-
Stop communicating with someone if they no longer feel comfortable.
If someone asks you to stop contacting them, please respect their decision.
Repeated unwanted messages, calls, invitations or attempts to make contact are not appropriate. Can lead to issues with your GHU membership and can also lead to criminal action.
5. Looking after yourself and others
People who attend peer support groups may be experiencing loneliness, difficult circumstances or emotional distress.
Friendship can be very helpful, but it is important that one person does not become another person’s only source of support.
Try to:
-
Maintain a range of friendships and support networks.
-
Be mindful of your own emotional needs and boundaries.
-
Avoid feeling that you are responsible for another person’s wellbeing.
-
Encourage someone to seek appropriate professional or other support when they need more help than a friendship can reasonably provide. You are not a friend in a professional capacity.
If you are worried about another member, you have made a friend of, you can speak to a facilitator.
Where someone is in mental health crisis:
You could direct them to crisis services, for example: call NHS on 111, choosing option 2.
Or suggest they go to A&E.
In an emergency always call 999.
6. Money, possessions and practical arrangements
Be particularly careful if money or other significant commitments become involved in a friendship.
We recommend that members:
-
Think carefully before lending or borrowing money from another member.
-
Do not pressure another member to give you money, buy something, invest money or become involved in a business opportunity.
-
Avoid sharing bank details, passwords or access to financial accounts.
-
Think carefully before giving someone access to your home or possessions.
-
Agree clearly in advance how costs will be shared when socialising.
GHU cannot take responsibility for financial arrangements between members.
7. Socialising outside the group & being safe
Meeting up outside the group can be a positive part of building friendships.
When arranging to meet:
-
Choose a setting where you feel comfortable and safe.
-
Consider meeting in a public place, particularly when you are getting to know someone.
-
Let someone you trust know where you are going if you have any concerns.
-
Respect another person’s choice if they do not want to meet outside the group.
-
Do not pressure anyone to take part in activities they do not want to do.
8. Romantic or sexual relationships
Sometimes a friendship may develop into a romantic or sexual relationship. If this happens, the same principles of respect, consent and personal boundaries apply.
-
Nobody should feel pressured to reciprocate romantic or sexual interest.
-
A person’s decision not to pursue a relationship must be respected.
-
Consent is required at all times.
-
Romantic or sexual contact should never be presented as a condition of friendship, support or inclusion.
-
If a relationship ends, both people should respect each other’s boundaries afterwards.
If you are unsure how to manage a situation involving another member, you can speak privately with a facilitator.
9. Social media and group chats
If you connect with other members online:
-
Ask before adding someone to a WhatsApp or other group chat.
-
Do not share someone’s phone number or social media details with others without their permission.
-
Do not share screenshots of private conversations.
-
Ask permission before posting photographs of other members.
-
Remember that online group chats may not be completely private.
-
Do not use contact details obtained through the group to send unwanted promotional, commercial or other inappropriate messages.
10. If a friendship becomes uncomfortable
It is okay to step back from a friendship.
At any time you can:
-
Reduce or stop contact.
-
Mute or block someone if necessary.
-
Tell someone that you no longer want to communicate.
-
Speak to a member of the group team if you are unsure what to do.
You do not have to continue a friendship simply because you met someone through the group.
If you feel pressured, harassed, threatened, exploited or unsafe, please tell a facilitator or seek legal advice.
11. Our role as an organisation
We want to support people to develop positive friendships and social connections. However, friendships between members are personal relationships and the organisation cannot supervise or guarantee what happens outside GHU activities.
We will take concerns seriously and will respond appropriately where there are concerns about harassment, exploitation, abuse, threats, safeguarding or behaviour that affects the safety and wellbeing of members/groups.​
Where necessary, information may need to be shared in line with our safeguarding, confidentiality and information-sharing procedures.
A simple principle to remember:
Connect freely - Respect boundaries - Look after yourself and each other!
Friendships can be one of the most valuable outcomes of peer support. We hope this guidance helps everyone to build positive connections while making informed choices about their own boundaries, privacy and wellbeing.