Peter Atherton

Background

About Peter Atherton

I believe everyone deserves to feel valued, to belong, and to flourish. As Founder and CEO of Community Led Initiatives (CLI), I’ve spent over a decade building peer-led support systems that empower people with lived experience of the criminal justice system, addiction, homelessness, and mental ill-health. My work is rooted in the belief that change is possible—and that those who’ve faced adversity often hold the deepest insights into how to rebuild lives and communities. At CLI, we don’t just support people—we walk alongside them, helping them rediscover their strengths, build self-worth, and become agents of change in their own right. I’m passionate about systems change, social justice, and creating spaces where people are seen for their potential—not their past. Whether through mentoring, strategic partnerships, or advocacy, I aim to shift narratives and unlock opportunities for those society often overlooks.