Our courses are co-designed, and co-facilitated by people with personal experience of mental health challenges, who deliver in collaboration with professionals and educational trainers.

 

Caroline, co-facilitator and Pharmacist

‘Speaking as someone who has accessed a course and also delivered one, I have been both humbled and honoured to be a student and a course leader working with an amazing team! I would recommend everyone checks the courses available. Whether you’re seeking support, being curious or require personal learning/growth, there is something for all’

 

 

Marie, course participant

‘When I did the wrap course. I never really thought that I would get so much out of it. Initially I was joining due to working in the perinatal, mental health service. But my gosh totally life changing to me. Thinking about what I’m like when I’m well, building up wellness tools, daily maintenance and when things are slipping. I’m looking forward to the 2nd of wrap and also volunteering for Leeds recovery college in the future. I’ve made new friends. Made more time for myself. Learning from others. Honestly recommend to everyone.’ 

 

 

Heather, co-facilitator and volunteer

‘The college is a place where I can feel accepted and supported to try new ways of peer working. I can design and deliver courses with other people; that has been a rewarding creative process for me.’ 

 

 

 

Michelle, course participant

‘The Recovery College is a wonderful addition to Mental Health Services in Leeds – everybody is friendly and also relatable because many have lived experience of mental health challenges.   There is also such a wide offering of activities!   For me, it was a place where I could go to learn about myself – learn new ways of managing my mental health / looking after myself – but most importantly to connect with others and feel less alone.  During lockdown it was so helpful that services continued and made available online, but I’m looking forward to meeting face-to-face again soon!’

 

 

Jemma, co-facilitator and Dietician

‘I have had a fantastic experience getting involved in the Leeds recovery college. It provides a unique opportunity where co-facilitators, volunteers and students can work closely and get the most out of courses using a combination of sharing lived experience and theory. Everyone has been so welcoming and I always left meet-ups and courses feeling more positive than when I joined them.’

 

 

 

Simon, co-facilitator and Recovery College Manager

‘The College’s ethos encourages people to focus on wellbeing and in thinking about what we all need to do to stay well, to spot the stressors and triggers that we all experience as part of our mental health, to recover and to build resilience. The approach is very much collaborative not ‘prescribed’. That’s because the college puts equal value on personal and professional perspectives. We can all learn from each other.’

 

 

Mark, co-facilitator and volunteer

‘Something that I find helpful with my mental  health is the ‘5 ways to wellbeing’. One of these 5 ways is ‘keep learning’. I  find that the recovery college is a good opportunity to do this. Courses are participatory. I have been a student on some courses, but I am also involved in helping to facilitate some courses – it is sometimes said that one of the best ways to learn something is to teach it. The courses are, as the prospectus puts it, ‘co-designed and co-facilitated by people who have experienced their own mental health challenges, working alongside health professionals…’ This way of working,  seeking to place coproduction at the centre of how the recovery college operates, is important to me.’

 

 

 

Julia, co-facilitator and course participant

‘My journey takes me on different turns in the road everyday. Recovery is not a race it’s something I do at my own pace and in my own time. Standing in front of me was a staircase full of challenges but that didn’t mean I had to climb every step at once. I took my first step and joined the college. With the lived experience, strength and knowledge of others this enabled me to start taking the steps I needed to plan my own recovery.’