Introduction

2. Introduction Welcome to the Brighton and Hove Recovery College, a new and exciting pilot project running from October 2012 to July 2013. Several recovery colleges are already running in other parts of the country , signalling a new way of thinking about mental health services, helping to challenge stigma and break down barriers. The Recovery College is run in partnership with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Mind Out and Friends Centre, Brighton and Hove. We hope that you will be inspired to take a course at the college and to join with us to enable the future development of this project .

3. Recovery College: What’s it all about? Brighton and Hove Recovery College (pilot project): our mission is to empower all individuals who have lived experience of mental health issues, to develop skills and knowledge, to take control of their health and well-being, to foster the importance of community learning and to challenge stigma. The Recovery College provides a range of courses and resources for people with lived experience of mental health issues, their friends, families and carers, professionals and mental health practitioners. All courses are co-produced and co-delivered by people with professional and lived experience, enabling people to draw on their own expertise and resourcefulness, encouraging them to become experts in their own self management and to share their journey of recovery with others. The Recovery College is for anyone who wishes to learn and grow, to develop their skills and to contribute towards the well-being and recovery of others.

4. Frequently Asked Questions Q. Where is Recovery College based? A. The main campus site is at the Mind offices, 51 New England Street, BN1 4GQ and this is where all the administration and paperwork is carried out, as well as most of the meetings, such as the Steering Group etc. However courses will be run at various venues around the city to ensure they are accessible to as many people as possible. Q. Do I need any qualifications? A. No – the Recovery College is aimed at enabling people to learn new skills and knowledge to help them manage their own recovery. It does not require any academic qualifications. Q. Where can I find out more information? A We have a project blog-site which gives more information on the courses available and has a sign-posting section to direct learners to other projects running in the city. The address is www.recoverycollegebrighton.wordpress.com We also have a small supply of recovery-orientated materials for learners to refer to and make use of.

5. Booking a Place on a Course To book a place on a course, contact us by telephone or email. We need to meet with each learner to register you with the college and for you to fill out an individual learning plan. By meeting face-to-face, we can talk about the project, what we can offer and what you hope to gain and discuss any support needs that you may have. As this is a pilot project , we will be collecting a certain amount of information about our learners, for our funders. We hope that you won’t find this too intrusive and please be assured that all information will be kept confidential and only used to evaluate the project. Collecting this information will help us to apply for future funding for the Recovery College but please speak to us if you have any questions or concerns about this. If you are unable to attend a course for any reason, we do ask that you let us know, so that we can offer the place to someone else and also, so that we know not to worry about you recovery.college@mindcharity.co.uk Tel: 01273 666950

6. Support to Attend Recovery College We aim to support people to attend the Recovery College. We are recruiting peer support volunteers who will be able to offer support to you if you need it. This could be by; emailing or texting you the day before, to remind you about a course, meeting with you at a convenient place to accompany you to the college, meeting after a course to talk about how it went, or to help with any course work that you might have to do. Any support that you think you might need can be discussed when you enrol at the college. PLEASE SEE THE NEXT SECTION, FOR COURSES RUNNING AT THE COLLEGE

7. Understanding Mental Health & it’s Treatment Mental Health Awareness With Mind: general awareness raising about mental health especially around stigma, including BME, culture and gender. Wednesday 10th April 2013, 10.00 to 4.30 A six and-a-half hour workshop Mind, 51 New England St, BN1 4GQ Understanding your Mental Health Condition Learner led workshops, as open forums to explore (1) the symptoms of each diagnosis, (2) the medication specific to each one, including side effects, reducing and coming off medication and (3) alternative treatments for each diagnosis June or July 3 x 2 or 3 hour sessions Venue to be confirmed

8. Making the Most of Services inBrighton and Hove Navigating Mental Health Services With Sussex Partnership Trust: Information on where to go and how to access mental health services, both statutory and 3rd sector, the admissions process, the different professional roles, the Care Programme Approach & NICE guidelines on what you should be able to expect from services. June or July 2 x 2 hour sessions Venue to be confirmed Exploring ‘The Rock’ A practical exploration of ‘The Rock’, Sussex Partnerships Trust’s online community tool kit for developing and supporting social inclusion and the recovery journey May or June 3 x 2 hour sessions Venue to be confirmed What to Expect from Therapy With Sussex Partnership Trust: What to expect when you see a therapist and how to make the most of therapy; the different types of therapy available together with the pros and cons of each; specialist areas, statutory availability and local low cost therapy. May or June 3 hour, half day workshop Venue to be confirmed

9. Making the Most of contd... What is Advocacy With Mind: A workshop exploring what advocacy is and what it isn’t, a brief history of the advocacy movement, different types and styles of advocacy and how to self advocate. Tuesday 16th April, 1.00 to 4.30 One half day Mind, 51 New England St., BN1 4GQ How to Make a Complaint With Mind: A workshop looking at the NHS complaints procedure, how to initiate a complaint, how to resolve complaints at a local level and how to take them higher. Tuesday 23rd April, 1.00 to 4.30 Room 2, Friends Meeting House, Ship St., BN1 1AF

10. Managing Recovery Planning your Own Recovery With Sussex Partnership Trust, a workshop focusing on planning your own recovery and developing self management tools and resilience, using WRAP and finding creative ways to incorporate WRAP into your every-day life. Date and time to be confirmed One half day Venue to be confirmed Family Inclusive Practice With Sussex Partnership Trust: a one day course for relatives, carers and professionals of those with mental health issues, enabling them to work constructively together to support those they care for and work with, to lead the lives they want. May and June – dates to be confirmed Venue to be confirmed

11. Developing Strategies for Health & Well-being Coping with Depression With Sussex Partnership Trust: A workshop looking at practical ways of coping with depression including some low level CBT techniques. 18th April , 1.00 to 4.30 - TBC Room 2, Friends Meeting House, Ship St., BN1 1AF Managing Anxiety With Sussex Partnership Trust: A workshop exploring causes and symptoms of anxiety, the physiological and emotional affects of this, treatments available (including alternative therapies) and self management techniques. April, May or June – to be confirmed One half day Mind, 51 New England St., BN1 4GQ Coping with Stress in the Workplace With Mind: Essential techniques and tools for improving mental well-being and managing and reducing workplace stress. Friday 22nd March, 10.00 to 4.30 A one day course Mind, 51 New England St., BN1 4GQ

12. Developing Strategies contd... Coping Strategies and Problem Solving With Sussex Partnership Trust: 3 hour introduction to a Problem Solving Pack, a practical and focussed self-help approach to self-directed problem solving. Thurs 25th or Fri 26th April - to be confirmed One half day Venue to be confirmed Building your Self Esteem & Confidence (LGBT) With Mind Out: A course for members of the LGBT community, looking at techniques and strategies to build self esteem. Starts Saturday 6th, April, 2.00 to 4.30 (learners advised to arrive at approx 1.45) One afternoon a week for four weeks Mind, 51 New England St., BN1 4GQ

13. Developing Strategies contd... Introduction to Peer Mentoring With Mind: A workshop exploring what is mentoring and what skills are required? The stages of a typical mentoring relationship plus practical & ethical considerations. Tuesday 11th June, 1.00 to 4.00 One half day Mind, 51 New England St., BN1 4GQ Motivating Yourself - TBC Positive thinking and the importance of optimism Date & time – to be confirmed Venue to be confirmed

14. Developing Knowledge & Life Skills Work and Well-being With Southdown Housing: how to prepare for returning to work or study (including voluntary work). The benefits of work, the barriers and how to overcome them, finances and work, job searching, applying for jobs, interviews and staying well in the work place. Introductory session on 28th Feb – 1.00-3.00 Starts Thursday 7th March, 2.00 – 4.00 One afternoon a week for seven weeks Mind, 51 New England St., BN1 4GQ Creating a Community Garden With Friends Centre: A course looking at transforming a public space into a welcoming and visually interesting area. Starts Monday 28th January, 1.00 to 3.00 One afternoon a week for twelve weeks Friends Centre, Brighton Junction, 35 New England St., BN1 4GQ NCFE Level I Exercise Studies With Albion in the Community: A course to provide learners with a better understanding of fitness and exercise, gain confidence, be in a position to assist in exercise classes and have the possibility to move on to gaining a qualification which could lead to work . This course is open to anyone aged 16 and over and is not exclusively football based. Starts Tuesday 9th April, 3.00 to 5.00 One afternoon a week for 8 – 12 weeks American Express Community Stadium, Falmer, Brighton

15. Developing knowledge contd... Climbing for Recovery With a climbing instructor: learn how to manage your recovery through climbing, discover how by simply concentrating on your next move you can bring yourself into the moment and restore a sense of stillness, calm and peace. (There will be a maximum of 8 learners on this course). Tuesday 7th, 12.00 to 2.00 One afternoon a week for four weeks Stanley Deason leisure centre, Wilson’s Ave, BN2 5PB Using the Arts to Aid Recovery With Art in Mind: a course using mixed media enabling learners to explore what recovery means to them, including clay work, use of fabrics, printing techniques and creating a recovery box . Friday 5th April, 2.00 to 4.00 Once a week for six weeks Friends Centre, Brighton Junction, Isetta Square

16. Getting Involved with Recovery College If you would like to become involved with the project please contact us. People can become volunteers to help others access the college, become part of the Steering Group helping to guide the direction and growth of the college, or as learners, enrolling in courses with the college. We will be holding a graduation ceremony in July 2013 for all our learners to attend to celebrate their achievements. Thank You To all our volunteers, peer trainers and learners and to our partner agencies. This project has been funded by the Skills Funding Agency.