Recovery College opens in Kirklees

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South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is opening an innovative recovery college in Kirklees to support local people in their recovery from mental and physical ill-health.

Recovery College Kirklees – which opens on Monday 15th September – offers courses focusing on a range of different topics including health and wellbeing, art and business. The College is based at Pathways in Mirfield with a number of other community locations throughout Kirklees offering courses.Kirklees Recovery College logo

The Recovery College has been developed in partnership with people who have experience of health problems, health professionals, local people and voluntary organisations, ensuring that courses offered support the needs and aspirations of people in the local community.

Matt Ellis, Kirklees Recovery College lead, who is leading on the development of the college in Kirklees said, “The opening of a Recovery College in Kirklees is an exciting development in the way we help people to recover from health problems. Developing a college that focuses on recovery allows us to use people’s personal experiences and struggles to help them find a creative path that works for them as they move towards living a meaningful life.

“We have lots of courses which we are piloting over the next couple of months that will help to develop people’s strengths – enabling them to understand their own challenges and how they can manage these to meet their individual goals.

“All the courses have been designed and delivered by people with experience of health problems, alongside people with professional experience. Those who have experience of health problems are the experts – and by making sure they’re involved from the beginning – we’re able to use their knowledge and experience to offer support to others.”

The Trust provides a range of mental health and learning disability services in Kirklees – as well as services in Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield – where Recovery Colleges are also opening. The colleges form part of a country wide change in the way we help people to recover from ill-health.

Steven Michael OBE, chief executive at the Trust explained, “We know that each person in touch with our NHS services has a unique view on what living well means to them. Our role is to help people gain greater control and responsibility for their future. It’s about self care, self management and working in true partnership – these are the principles that have guided the development of our Recovery Colleges”.

For more information about the Recovery College in Kirklees, including details of courses now available and how to book your place visit www.kirkleesrecoverycollege.co.uk, call 01924 326540 or email recovery.kirklees@swyt.nhs.uk

Recovery College opens in Kirklees

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