Recovery College opening in Wakefield and the 5 Towns
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is opening an innovative recovery college in the Wakefield district– to support local people in their recovery from mental and physical ill-health.
Wakefield and 5 Towns Recovery College – which opens at a special event on 29th September, offers courses focusing on a range of
different topics including health and wellbeing, art and business.
The College is based at the Garden Street Centre in Wakefield with a number ofcourses being delivered at other community locations throughout Wakefield and the 5 towns.
The recovery college has been developed in partnership with people who have experience of health problems, health professionals and local people – ensuring that courses offered support the needs of people in the local community.
Darryl Thompson, a mental health nurse who is leading on the development of the college in Wakefield said, “The opening of a Recovery College in Wakefield is an exciting development in the way we develop and provide services for people, to support their recovery from health problems.
“We have lots of courses planned over the next few months that will help people to learn more about a health problem, develop new skills and recognise and build on their existing strengths”.
“Many of the courses have been designed and will be delivered in partnership by people with experience of health problems alongside people with professional experience.
“The development of the college has been based on a strong sense of team work between all those involved. Volunteers, partners and staff have been able to combine their experience and expertise to produce a really interesting prospectus – which we will add to with more opportunities in 2015.”
A volunteer who has been involved with planning the launch of the Wakefield Recovery College said, “Helping to get the recovery college up and running has been a great experience for me. I can help others as I’m going to be a volunteer with one of the courses, talking to people about mental health and sharing my experience of overcoming my own problems”.
The Trust provides a range of mental health, learning disability and community services in Wakefield – as well as services in, Barnsley, Calderdale and Kirklees – 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 Wakefield Recovery College, including details of courses now available and how to enrol please visit www.wakerecoverycollege.co.uk