Peer Pastoral Support: Working with Doctoral Students to Co-Create a Supportive Postgraduate Researcher Environment

This paper delves into the inception, evolution, and impact of Peer Pastoral Support Groups (PPSGs) at Newcastle University, specifically within the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty. Originating as a response to the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the PPSGs were initially designed to mitigate potential loneliness and facilitate socialisation among first-year PhD students. However, these groups continued beyond the pandemic, becoming an integral part of the Researcher Education and Development (RED) program. The paper suggests that the co-creation of support networks is vital in establishing a supportive postgraduate researcher environment.