Recovery College opens in Calderdale

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

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The Calderdale Recovery College ‘HOPE’ – which opens today, Wednesday 1st October – offers courses focusing on a range of different topics including health and wellbeing, art and business. Courses have been developed to improve wellbeing, help people build their skills and support them to make positive choices.

The administrative base for the college is Hope Street resource centre in Halifax and courses are available here as well as at community locations throughout Calderdale.

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.

Libby Smith operations manager for mental health recovery services is leading on the project, shesaid, “The opening of a Recovery College in Calderdale 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 to help them find a creative path that works for them as they move towards living a meaningful life.

“We have lots of courses planned 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 will be 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, learning disability and community services in Calderdale – as well as services in, Barnsley, 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 Calderdale Recovery College, including details of courses available and how to book your place visit www.calderdalerecoverycollege.co.uk

Recovery College opens in Calderdale

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