Recovery College
Recovery College offers a range of free courses for everyone to help benefit your wellbeing, manage signs of poor mental health and provide access to good mental health information and support.
We have designed a range of short sessions for those who need just a little bit of support, and longer courses that lasts 3 to 8 weeks for those who want to delve deep and learn new ways of coping, get to know their mental health better and focus on mental health education.
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All our courses are completely FREE of charge, and you can participate in person at our Fenton St office or online. Please note that Recovery College courses are for 17 + only.
To book your place please come to one of our Enrolment Days on the first working Monday of the month or call us on 01724 279 500 for more details.
Please note that the places on any of the courses are limited, so please book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Short Courses
Gaining Employment & Volunteering Opportunities Workshop
This workshop will help you to find and secure meaningful volunteer roles and job opportunities. We will guide you through craft compelling CV's, job applications, and preparing for interviews.
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Over two sessions, you will learn:
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- Discover the benefits of volunteering and work experience: Learn how they can boost your confidence, develop your skills, and enhance your employability.
- Learn how to craft compelling CVs and applications that highlight your strengths and stand out from the crowd.
- Master online job search tools: Explore a range of online resources and platforms to find the right opportunities.
- Interview preparation: Develop your interview skills and learn practical tips to make a great impression.
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Dates of Course:
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Monday 9, 16 March,
10 am - 12 noon
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Monday 11, 18 May,
10 am - 12 noon
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Mindfulness
Mindfulness goes by many names, but in essence it is just a practice of being present. Practiced regularly it could help you to feel better, manage anxiety and low moods.
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In this short session we will discover what mindfulness is and what it isn’t and how it can help you in your recovery journey.
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Date of Course:
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Wednesday 25 February 4 - 6 pm
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Wednesday 8 July 4 - 6 pm
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Full Courses
Understanding and Managing Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental health problems and although we all feel low sometimes, depression is a diagnosis that affects people’s everyday lives.
We will discuss what depression is, it’s symptoms, how positive activities could help you feel better and the role of thinking in depression.
We will also discuss how to challenge unhelpful thoughts to manage depression better.
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- Depression and symptoms
- Depression and activity levels
- Role of thinking in depression
- Challenging unhelpful thinking
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Dates of Course:
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Wednesday 4, 11, 18, 25 March,
4 - 6 pm
Anger Management and Emotional Regulation
We all have variety of emotions that we do not like or that can cause problems in our lives and anger is probably one of those.
We will be discussing what anger is and exploring techniques that would help you deal with it better.
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- Understanding anger
- Challenging unhelpful thinking
- Anger and assertiveness
- Cope with criticism and disappointment better
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Date of Course:
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Thursday 12, 19, 26 March and 2 April,
2 - 4 pm
Why Weight?
The Why Weight? Programme is designed to support your overall wellbeing by focusing on both your physical and mental health.
Over an eight-week course, we’ll guide you through practical areas like:
- Nutrition & portion sizes
- Physical activity
- Sleep habits
- Mindfulness
… and so much more!
Together, we’ll work on setting your personal health goals and building healthy habits that matter to you.
While weight loss might be a positive outcome, our focus is on celebrating all achievements, big or small - whether it’s improved mood, higher energy, or a better relationship with food.
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Dates of Course:
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Wenesday 15, 22, 29 April, 6, 13, 20, 27 May and 3 June,
2 - 4 pm
Understanding and Managing Stress
The last few years has been particularly stressful for a lot of us and although stress is not mental health diagnosis, prolonged stress can contribute to poor mental wellbeing.
We will focus on stress and main stresses in life, learn how to recognise it and learn to manage it in more positive way.
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- Everything about stress: types, causes and effect
- Thinking patterns and stress
- Useful techniques to manage stress
- Stress essentials: daily self care
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Dates of Course:
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Thursday 30 April and 7, 14, 21 May,
2 - 4 pm
Managing Mental Health at Work
In recent years work has undergone a drastic change for a lot of us and for many coming back to ‘normal’ can be even more stressful than starting working remotely. Mental health is one of the leading causes of sickness absences in UK and a growing number of employers are recognising that taking care of employees wellbeing pays off.
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In this course we will discuss how to take care of your wellbeing at work, learn few strategies that would help you solve problems, prioritise your workload, become more assertive at work and much more.
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- Workplace Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)
- Good time management and prioritising
- Assertiveness and problem solving
- Expanding your wellness toolbox at work and your rights
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Dates of Course:
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Saturday 16, 23, 30 May
10 am - 12 noon
Understanding and Managing Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues in UK and although it can affect our lives negatively, there are ways to manage it better.
In this course we will explore what anxiety is and what behavioural, physical and cognitive effect it has on us. We will also learn how to challenge unhelpful thoughts and share other tips to deal with anxiety better.
At the end of each session we will try different relaxation techniques.
- What is anxiety and causes of anxiety
- Manage anxiety by challenging negative thoughts
- Self help: choose your behaviour to challenge anxiety
- Other ways to deal with anxiety
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Dates of Course:
Wednesday 10, 17, 24 June and 1 July,
4 - 6 pm
Boost Confidence and Self Esteem
Self esteem plays a very important part in our wellbeing at work and in our personal life.
Good self-esteem gives us confidence, makes us feel better about ourselves and others, and encourages us to be open to new experiences.
We will focus on what makes our self esteem low, how to recognise negative self-talk and manage it better, in order to develop healthy self-esteem.
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- Everything about self esteem
- Self-esteem and negative thinking
- Challenging negative self-talk
- Focusing on me: positive qualities and activities
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Dates of Course:
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Thursday 11, 18, 25 June and 2 July,
2 - 4 pm
Practicing Assertiveness
This is for everyone who is interested in assertiveness and wants to learn how to use it to achieve work and personal goals.
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We will discuss what assertiveness is and isn’t, analyse different situations and try to identify our own communication style.
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- Assertiveness and other communication styles
- Communication blockers and boosters
- Different assertiveness techniques
- Dealing with criticism in an assertive way
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Dates of Course:
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Thursday 9, 16, 23, 30 July,
4 - 6 pm