What does your organisation do? Who are the main people you help?
Leeds Recovery College offers a range of workshops and courses for people to learn more about mental health and explore what keeps them well.
All our courses are free to adults (aged 18 and over) who live, work or study in Leeds. You don’t need to be referred to the college, have a mental health diagnosis or be in contact with a mental health service to attend.
You would be part of a wide range of people attending the courses (including family members and carers) who would like to learn more about mental health and explore ways to better support their wellbeing.
What makes your organisation different from others in Leeds?
All of our courses are co-delivered by people who have experienced their own mental health challenges. They facilitate alongside health care professionals, wellbeing trainers and subject specialists. We hope that this co-delivery model helps to make our courses friendly and interactive.
We focus on learning, and creating spaces which feel collaborative and not ‘prescribed’. We put equal value on personal and professional perspectives – people are encouraged to share their own thoughts and ideas. We deliver our courses from community (non-clinical) venues and group sizes are kept small to encourage discussion and activity.
What’s the history and mission of your organisation?
The first UK Recovery College opened in 2009 and Leeds Recovery College opened in 2019. Over recent years, the number of Recovery Colleges has grown and Leeds is now one of 220 in the UK.
Adopting a model first developed in the USA, Recovery Colleges have a very clear focus on education. We all value learning as a route to support better mental health, building confidence and maintaining wellbeing.
In Leeds, we’re hosted by Leeds and York NHS Foundation Trust and supported by the Leeds Health and Care Academy. We’re a relatively small team, but work with over 40 different volunteers, trainers, and subject specialists from different organisations, who co-deliver our training with us.
How would your courses help me take care of my mental health?
One of our most popular courses is Wellness Recovery Action Plan® more commonly known as WRAP. It’s an evidence-based course first developed in 1997 and now used worldwide to help people manage all kinds of challenges that impact their mental health and wellbeing.
WRAP involves creating a personalised plan that outlines what you need to maintain your mental health and wellbeing, as well as strategies to use when you’re not feeling well. It’s a tool to help people feel more in control of their mental health and recovery.
Through WRAP, you’ll develop a clear picture of yourself at different stages of wellness. The course encourages peer discussion and shared learning, helping you build a toolkit of resources to better support yourself at these different points.
At Leeds Recovery College, our lead facilitators are accredited WRAP facilitators and follow the original Wellness Recovery Action Plan® curriculum. Since 2019, we’ve helped hundreds of people develop their own WRAP plans. We regularly offer free community WRAP courses including a two-day workshop specifically for those working in Leeds-based health and care services to better support their wellbeing.
Where can I find out more about courses and workshops?
You can explore leedsrecoverycollege.com to see the full range of upcoming opportunities. In addition to WRAP courses, there are workshops and courses for the public, including:
- Qi Gong movement to help relaxation
- Mindfulness for beginners
- Confidence and self-esteem
- Writing for self-expression
- Living with an eating disorder
- Sound relaxation using drums, singing bowls, gongs and more
There is also a range of wellbeing events for Leeds health and care staff, so if you work for a Leeds based organisation, such as:
- Third Sector or charity
- NHS trust
- GP surgery
- independent care provider
- Leeds City Council
- Leeds based School, College or University
Health and care staff can attend courses to complete a WRAP or book one-off sessions to try techniques such as sound relaxation or yoga. There are also wellbeing retreats, on such topics such as:
- Self-compassion and burnout
- Creating healthy boundaries
- Choosing happiness and self-care
- Your body talks, are you listening?
If you’re unsure if Leeds Recovery College is right for you, you could try an online 1 hour introductory session ? The next one’s on 18 September – why not give it a go!
Visit leedsrecoverycollege.com for upcoming courses and workshops for the public, or retreats and courses for health and care staff. You can find out more and book places by contacting:
- Email Leedsrecoverycollege.lypft@nhs.net
- Call 0113 855 5127
You can also see the Contact and venue details page for information about venues for courses and a booking form.
Be next in the MindWell spotlight? If you’re an organisation, service or volunteer-run group in Leeds, supporting people’s mental health and wellbeing, and would like to feature in a future MindWell Directory spotlight, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch with us at mindwellleeds@gmail.com
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