Innovative Recovery College to open in Kirklees

A series of events have been organised to give people in Kirklees the chance to shape a new Recovery College that aims to aid recovery from mental and physical ill-health.

Members of the public are invited to have their say at two events:

• On Tuesday 20 May, 1pm – 4.30pm, Hudawi Centre, Great Northern Street, Huddersfield, HD1 6BG
• On Thursday 22 May, 1pm – 4.30pm, Al Hikmah centre, 28 Track Road, Batley, WF17 7AA

Kirklees Recovery College is just one of several recovery colleges that will be opened by the Trust – joining others in the country. It is being developed in partnership with local NHS and social care organisations in Kirklees and will offer courses focusing on a range of different topics including health and wellbeing, art and business.

These could include courses to help people manage a specific health related issue, develop a new skill such as playing a musical instrument or guidance on setting up a social enterprise.

All of the courses will be planned and run by people who have experienced health problems alongside healthcare professionals and will give people an opportunity to work together to understand, share and develop best practices.

The Recovery College will focus on developing people’s strengths and enabling them to understand their own challenges and how they can best manage these to pursue their aspirations.

The Trust provides a range of mental health and learning disability services to the people of Kirklees – as well as services in Barnsley, Calderdale and Wakefield.

People who use the Trust’s local health services, their family and carers, Trust staff and people from other health and social care providers in the Kirklees area are invited to contribute to the event.

Dr Sheila Lewis, a consultant clinical psychologist at the Trust who is leading the development of the college in Kirklees, she said: “Recovery colleges are an exciting development in the way we help people to recover from both physical and mental health problems. The colleges form part of a country wide change in the way we help people to recover from ill-health.

“They provide a great opportunity for us to work in partnership with members of the local community and they embody our goal as an organisation of enabling people to reach their potential and live well in their community. By working alongside local people we can help people to become experts in their own self-care and nurture the skills they need to live and work in their local communities.”

To book a place on the event call 01924 326540 or email recovery.kirklees@swyt.nhs.uk.