The Backbone Programme

The Backbone Programme is our peer-support implementation service designed to help organisations build effective, trusted peer-led support networks inside the workplace.

This is not just a training course. It is a structured process that works alongside leadership and HR to design, launch, and sustain an internal peer support system that fits the organisation’s size, structure, and culture.

For many men, support works best when it is informal, accessible, and rooted in existing relationships. This programme helps organisations create those conditions deliberately and safely.

Users Users This Programme Is For

  • Organisations delivering The Invisible Man
  • Male-dominated or mixed workforces
  • Employers seeking sustainable, internal solutions
  • HR and people teams focused on prevention
  • Organisations reviewing the cost and impact of external support

No clinical background is required.

Link Link

Implementation

Available as a standalone programme or as an adjuct to The Invisible Man course

Users Users

Delivery

In-person, with ongoing support available online

Cog Cog

Customisable

Can be tailored to your requirements

Building trusted, cost-effective peer support networks inside the workplace.

The Problem ⚠️

Many organisations rely heavily on external wellbeing providers, helplines, or outsourced services to support staff mental health.

While these services have their place, they are often:

  • Expensive to maintain
  • Underused by men
  • Disconnected from day-to-day workplace realities
  • Reactive rather than preventative

At the same time, managers and HR teams are left dealing with issues only once they have escalated (grievances, absence, conflict, or performance concerns) without clear insight into the underlying pressures driving them.

Without trusted internal channels:

  • Men remain isolated
  • Early warning signs are missed
  • Issues become formal HR problems unnecessarily
  • Organisations struggle to understand how their own procedures, culture, or dynamics may be contributing to distress

Our Solution 💡

The Peer Support Programme helps organisations bring support closer to the ground.

By training selected staff to act as peer supporters (trusted listeners with clear boundaries) organisations can create informal, human support routes that men are far more likely to use.

This approach:

  • Reduces over-reliance on external providers
  • Increases trust in the employer’s intent and care
  • Strengthens community and connection among staff
  • Provides earlier insight into emerging issues
  • Allows organisations to spot patterns linked to workload, procedures, or culture

Peer supporters are not expected to fix problems or provide therapy. Their role is to listen, normalise conversation, and help issues surface early, when they are easier and cheaper to address.

Course Contents 📚

The Peer Support Programme typically includes:

  • The role and limits of peer support in male mental health
  • Selecting appropriate peer supporters
  • Clear boundaries, responsibilities, and safeguards
  • Listening skills without diagnosing or problem-solving
  • Recognising early signs of escalation
  • When and how to signpost appropriately
  • Supporting peer supporters themselves
  • Using insight from peer conversations to inform organisational learning

All content is practical, realistic, and grounded in how men actually communicate at work.

Outcomes for Orgs 🎯

Organisations implementing the Peer Support Programme commonly experience:

  • Reduced spend on external wellbeing services
  • Earlier identification of issues before they become HR cases
  • Increased employee trust and engagement
  • Stronger sense of community and mutual support
  • Fewer grievances and reactive interventions
  • Better understanding of how workplace structures and culture affect staff wellbeing
  • Reduced pressure on managers and HR teams

The programme supports prevention, insight, and culture change, not just crisis response.

What This Programme Is Not 🚫

  • It is not therapy or counselling
  • It does not replace professional services where needed
  • It does not place inappropriate responsibility on staff
  • It does not increase organisational liability

It is a structured, cost-effective approach to building trust and support from within.

📞 Book a Call

Book a short discovery call with our lead facilitator to discuss your requirements.

These calls are informal and exploratory. No preparation required. No selling. Just a practical conversation to establish whether any of our services could be a good fit for you.

⏳ 20 mins

🎥 Cal Video

🚀 Pricing & Delivery

Our Peer Support implementation is priced based on organisational size, number of peer supporters, delivery format, and the level of ongoing support required.

Pricing reflects the scope of implementation and is designed to remain cost-effective when compared to ongoing reliance on external wellbeing providers.

Indicative pricing is discussed during a discovery call to ensure the programme is proportionate, appropriate, and sustainable for your organisation.

Book a discovery call to explore options.

Powered by
►
Necessary cookies enable essential site features like secure log-ins and consent preference adjustments. They do not store personal data.
None
►
Functional cookies support features like content sharing on social media, collecting feedback, and enabling third-party tools.
None
►
Analytical cookies track visitor interactions, providing insights on metrics like visitor count, bounce rate, and traffic sources.
None
►
Advertisement cookies deliver personalized ads based on your previous visits and analyze the effectiveness of ad campaigns.
None
Powered by