Welcome to Been There!

We provide peer support through trained peer mentors who have lived experience with body image and eating concerns

This is peer mentoring - not therapy, counselling, or friendship

Our peer mentors are volunteers who can offer understanding, support, and hope based on their own recovery journey.

Been There Peer Mentor Application From

We're really glad you're here 🖤

Please complete the application form below to apply to become a Been There Peer Mentor.

Before you begin:

Everything you share will be kept confidential and is only used to help us support and safeguard everyone involved.

Please answer all questions as honestly as you can. This helps to support us in matching you with a Mentee you can genuinely connect with.

This form takes around 15–20 minutes to complete. It won’t save your progress, and you’ll need to complete each section before moving on, so please make sure you’ve got enough time to finish it in one go.

During the application you'll be asked to provide details for two referees. These can be two professional referees, or one professional and one personal referee. Please have their names and email addresses ready before you begin.

Please note: personal referees cannot be relatives.

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Street Address *

City *

County *

Postal Code *

Date of birth *

The minimum age to become a Peer Mentor is 18

Are you currently residing in the UK? *

Yes

Important: At present, we can only accept volunteers who are currently based in the UK.

We’re working on expanding internationally! If you’d like to be contacted when this happens, please join our: International Waitlist

Have you lived outside of the UK for a total of 12 months or more in the last 5 years? *

Yes

This can include multiple shorter stays that add up to 12 months

Employment Status *

Occupation

Tell us a little more about you and why you want to be a Peer Mentor? *

What skills, experiences and values would you bring to Been There as a Peer Mentor? *

Please share what you hope to gain from your volunteering experience? *

Please answer the following questions honestly and to the best of your ability. All information is treated in strict confidence and is used to ensure safety and suitability for a mentoring role.

Please briefly describe your experience with body image struggles: *

Are you currently in recovery? *

Fully recovered

In stable recovery (occasional struggles, generally well)

In active recovery

Not currently in recovery

Do you feel emotionally ready to support someone else in their recovery? *

Yes

Not sure

In the past 12 months, have you experienced any of the following? *

Please select all that apply.

Are you currently receiving support from any mental health professionals? *

Yes

(e.g. therapist, counsellor, psychiatrist) This won’t necessarily prevent you from applying. We need to make sure we’re supporting you well and keeping things safe for everyone involved.

How do you look after your own mental wellbeing currently? *

How would you maintain clear boundaries in peer relationships? *

How would you respond if a Mentee disclosed they were at risk of harm to themselves or others? *

Do you feel now is the right time in your life to take on this role? Why or why not? *

Is there anything else you'd like to share that would help us understand your current wellbeing? *

Thank you for sharing this with us. We know some of these questions can be personal. The next section explores how your experiences and strengths can support others as a Peer Mentor

To help us to match you with your Mentee(s) please tick any of the following challenges you have experience with.

Challenges you can help with? *

Have you ever provided Mentoring support, counselling, or therapy, either as a volunteer or as paid staff? *

Worked (Paid)

Volunteered

We ask all volunteers to commit to the training and mentoring process.

Training is an important investment for both you and Been There, so we want to make sure you feel able to meet the expectations of the role.

Please confirm you can meet the following requirements:

I have access to a laptop, computer, or smartphone that I can use for training *

I confirm

I have a private space where I can support mentees confidentially (i.e. not a public setting) *

I confirm

At Been There, we focus on empowering Mentees to find their own answers, rather than giving advice or telling them what they “should” do.

I understand this approach and can provide empathetic support without directing a Mentee’s decisions. *

I understand

Please read the following carefully.

Training is a shared investment between you and Been There. To ensure consistency and the best experience for Mentees, we ask all volunteers to commit to a minimum of 6 months within the Been There community.

I understand and can commit to a minimum of 6 months of volunteering *

I understand

I understand that if I withdraw before completing 6 months, I may be asked to contribute towards the cost of my training. *

I understand

Please read the following carefully.

Training includes three facilitated online sessions (each lasting approximately 2–3 hours), along with self-paced online modules to be completed in your own time. All elements of the training are mandatory and will be assessed.

Topics covered include: delivering peer support, behavioural theory, using the app, safeguarding and data protection, establishing boundaries, and an introduction to Been There.

I commit to completing training before I will be signed off as a mentor. *

I agree

I am happy for Been There to use screenshots, photographs, or recordings from training sessions that may include me in social media, promotional materials, or other charity communications.

I agree

You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us.

As part of your application to become a Peer Mentor, we ask for two character references.

These can be either two professional references or one professional and one personal reference (your personal referee cannot be a relative).

Later in the application process, we’ll get in touch with your referees to complete a short form.

Reference No.1: Full Name *

Reference No.1: Email Address *

Reference No.2: Full Name *

Reference No.2: Email Address *

To become a Peer Mentor, you will be required to complete an Enhanced DBS check. Been There works with Certn and Yoti to carry out these checks.

Once your onboarding has begun, you will be contacted to start the process. You will need to provide identification (e.g. passport, driving licence, and a bank or credit card statement) and details of your addresses for the past five years.

If you have lived outside of the UK, additional checks may be required. In some cases, this may involve a cost contribution, which we will discuss with you in advance.

I understand that an Enhanced DBS check is required as part of the mentoring role. *

I understand

I consent to Been There sharing my details with Certn to complete these checks. *

I consent

To process your application and provide our services, we need to collect and use your personal information, including your contact details.

We will always handle your data securely and in line with current data protection legislation. You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at [email protected].

For more information about how we use your data and your rights, please see our Privacy Policy.

I consent to Been There processing my personal data for the purposes of mentoring services. *

I consent

Special Category Data - Health Information

As part of your application, we also collect information about your health and wellbeing. This is known as “special category data” and requires your explicit consent.

We only collect and use this information where necessary to assess your suitability for the role and to ensure safe and appropriate mentoring support.

I give explicit consent for Been There to process my health information and other special category data for these purposes. *

I consent

We collect the following information to help us better understand our community and ensure we are creating inclusive opportunities for people from all backgrounds.

These questions are optional, and your responses will not affect your application.

What gender do you identify as?

Ethnic Background

Education

I confirm that all the information I have provided is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

How did you hear about us? *

If applicable we'd be grateful if you could share the name of the individual or company who recommended us.

We want to make our onboarding process as accessible as possible. If you require any additional support or reasonable adjustments, please let us know below:

OPTIONAL