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Social Work vocabulary · Community Work

Support group

Meaning in social work, with examples

nounCore term

In social work, support group means: A group of people with a shared experience, such as caring, bereavement or addiction, who meet regularly to share feelings, information and practical tips.

In Turkish: destek grubu

How it is used

Some groups are run by professionals; others are peer-led or self-help groups. Social workers set up, facilitate or refer people to support groups, and online support groups have become common.

Example sentences

  1. She found the carers' support group a lifeline after her husband's stroke.

  2. I co-facilitate a support group for parents of autistic children.

Common collocations

  • join a support group
  • run a support group
  • peer support group
  • online support group
  • carers' support group
  • volunteerA person who gives their time to help an organisation or community without being paid; as a verb, to offer to do this.
  • carerA person, often a family member or friend, who looks after someone who is ill, disabled, older or otherwise in need of support, usually without pay.
  • community engagementInvolving local people and groups in identifying needs, planning services and making the decisions that affect them.
  • empowermentThe process of helping people gain more control over their own lives, decisions and resources, and the confidence to act for themselves.

More terms: Community Work

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