Introduction: This paper focuses on providing social care to a close relative. It is crucial in social services. Design: qualitative methodology – method of semi-structured interviews. Methods: respondents were selected to satisfy specific criteria. Particularly, these criteria were the care of a close relative who was assigned level III or IV care benefits. Another criterion according to which we selected respondents was that the carer belonged to the age group in which a person is still usually economically active. The research sample consisted of 6 respondents. Results: Based on the data analysis, we created categories to present the content of semi-structured interviews. Needs focusing on the body carried over into maintenance of one’s own physical and mental health are: the need for safety, the need for acceptance, the need for acknowledgement and respect, and the need for self-fulfilment and perspective. Conclusions: It is important to identify the care of a close relative, the specifics and needs, in the interests of configuring effective management of medical, psychological and social care, and creation of a system of social protection.

Aim. Peer mediation is a tool for the prevention of socio-pathological phenomena occurring in the school environment, is an opportunity to resolve conflicts through reconciliation. The paper focuses on the perception of the importance of peer mediation and on the presentation of the results of a questionnaire survey, the aim of which was to determine the respondents’ preferences after completion of the project process. Methods. The aim of the questionnaire survey was to determine how pupils and students perceive peer mediation. The survey sample consisted of selected pupils from 6 primary schools aged 10 to 15 years and students from 6 secondary schools aged 15 to 18 years. The questionnaire was completed at the beginning (year 2020 - N = 189, including 90 primary school pupils) and end of the project implementation (year 2021 - N = 124, including 56 primary school pupils). Results. The responses in the entry and exit questionnaires, the respondents declared after participating in the project process an increase in their experience with peer mediation, expressed an interest in becoming peer mediators and resolving personal and school conflicts through peer mediation. Conclusion. Peer mediation engages pupils in a common dialogue to resolve conflicts at school through reconciliation and is a suitable way to prevent undesirable social phenomena in the school environment. The results of the research showed that respondents preferred peer mediation and perceived it as an appropriate form of conflict resolution in the school environment.