Keeping Connected and the Weekly Update

Welcome to Keeping Connected and our weekly update!

Kirklees Courses and Workshops: Easter to May Half Term

Explore our exciting range of courses and workshops available between Easter and the May half term on our website. Book your spot now!

We have something for everyone, including brand new courses and beloved favourites. Keep an eye out for new courses in Calderdale, which will be advertised throughout the spring. Courses fill up quickly, so don’t wait—secure your place today!

Upcoming Course before Easter

Dream Destinations Get creative by printing your own design onto a tote bag

Get Animated make a stop motion video.

How to Manage Stress Learn effective stress management techniques.

Self Esteem and Resilience

These courses are starting soon, so book now! There are many more options available—check out the full details and find out more by clicking here:

Full course and workshop timetable

As always do have a read of our monthly newsletter with inspirational stories of recovery:

Keeping Connected March 2025

Get Involved in 10 Year Celebrations of the Recovery College through Fabric Art!

Join Us in Creating a Community Quilt for Our 10th Anniversary!

To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we invite YOU to help us create a community quilt! This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to contribute to a shared piece of artwork that reflects our experiences and creativity as a community, while celebrating a decade of the College.

How You Can Participate:

• Create or Decorate a Fabric Square: Reflect the themes of “Celebrating the College and What It Means to You” and/or “Creativity for Wellbeing.” If you’re unsure how to get started, don’t worry—help is available!
• Attend a Fabric Craft Course: Join one of our fabric craft courses after Easter to create your square.
• Make Your Square at Home: You can also create your square at home and then send or bring it to us.

Once we have collected enough squares, we will sew them together to create a commemorative quilt that will be showcased as a lasting memento of your participation in this important milestone.

No Fabric Skills Needed:

You don’t need any fabric skills to get involved. Just use some scrap fabric, glue, or paint. As long as you follow the instructions and make your square the correct size, it can be included in the finished quilt.

Find out more and read the simple instructions for making your square here:

Get Involved in our 10 Year Celebrations through Fabric Art!

We can’t wait to see your squares and how they will all fit together as part of this creative, collaborative project! Thank you for your help!

 

Cuppa and Connect – Save the date!

Thursday 3rd April at Fresh Futures (AKA Brian Jackson Centre Huddersfield) 4pm 6pm

We are planning events for all our learners in 2025 to connect in different venues across Calderdale and Kirklees.

This will be chance to chat with staff, volunteers  and other leaners and be part of celebrating 10 years of the Recovery and Wellbeing College. We want to have more conversations with you to help us shape the college.

Watch this space for more info!

 

Magazines Needed!

At the Recovery College, our creative projects often require various craft materials. If you have any magazines you no longer need, we would greatly appreciate your donation! Please bring them to your next course at Mirfield Community Centre. Thank you for your support.

 

Recovery & Wellbeing College courses

Courses coming up soon…

International Women’s Day: Find Your Inner ‘SHERO’

Holmfirth Tech, 140 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, HD9 3AR – Friday 7 March 2025 10am – 3pm 1 week

On the eve of International Women’s Day we will be celebrating the power of the female voice. Using inspiration from the ‘100 Women Who Changed the World’, we will unearth our stories of change with the support and guidance of our wonderful Recovery College Facilitators, Laura, Karen and Vicky. Through group discussion, games, art and writing we will showcase ordinary women, like us, living extraordinary lives.

Please note this session includes a shared lunchtime, drinks and nourishing snacks will be provided but please bring your own lunch.

International Women’s Day: Find Your Inner ‘SHERO’

Creative Mandalas

Project Colt, Elland, Halifax, Bridgefield Mills, Elland Bridge, Elland, Halifax HX5 0SQ – Monday 10 March 2025 10:00am-12:00pm 4 weeks

Explore the expressive art of mandala-making in this 4-week course designed to nurture your creativity and support your well-being. Guided by a gentle, friendly approach, you’ll experiment with stencils, collage, clay work, and mark-making to create intricate, layered mandalas that reflect your own unique style.

Creative Mandalas

Anxiety & Stress Relief: Mind Body Connections

Project Colt, Elland, Halifax, Bridgefield Mills, Elland Bridge, Elland, Halifax HX5 0SQ – Monday 24 March 2025 1.30pm – 3.30pm 1 week

Holmfirth Tech, 140 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, HD9 3AR – Wednesday 21 May 2025 6pm – 7.30pm 1 week

Come along and join us for this fascinating one-off workshop where we will learn about the mind and body connection.  During this interactive session, together we will discuss how difficult emotions, such as anxiety and chronic stress, can affect us and what we can do to help manage them.  Based on the most up-to-date neuroscientific studies, we will discover stress relieving techniques and ways to enable us to change our mindset in order to build resilience.

Due to the popularity of this course and to ensure we are being fair to everyone, this course is not available to learners who have undertaken this course previously.

Anxiety & Stress Relief: Mind Body Connections

 

Full Recovery & Wellbeing College timetable

Click the icon or link below for details of all our upcoming courses:

Click to book – View all courses – Calderdale and Kirklees Recovery College (calderdalekirkleesrc.nhs.uk)

 

Recovery & Wellbeing College – How to book your place

If you are already enrolled with the college, please email us to request a place on your chosen course(s) at:  ckrecovery.wellbeing@swyt.nhs.uk  or call us on: 07717 867911 or you can use your learner portal to express your interest.

Please wait for confirmation that you are booked onto a course before attending.

If you are new to the College please enrol here.

Learner Portal

If you have enrolled with us within the last 2 years or so you will have access to our learner portal. This makes booking onto courses even easier! You can request to book onto courses and see what course you have attended. Use the links below to the portal and our user guide.

Learner portal link

User guide 

 Change NHS: Help build a health service fit for the future

The NHS has been there for us for over 76 years. But to make sure it’s here for the next 76 years, doing all it can to support the health of everyone, we need your help.

Change NHS  has been launched to hear your views, experiences, and ideas which will shape a new 10 Year Health Plan for England. This will run until spring 2025. If you have benefited from the Recovery College it might be an idea to give us a mention!

Thank you to everyone who has got involved so far. If you’re new to Change NHS, you can still take part in all the activities so far to have your say.

Make sure to register to keep up to date with what’s happening next.

You can read more about Change NHS at https://change.nhs.uk/en-GB/ 

Other Community Offers

Support to Find and Maintain Employment- REAL Support

Do you have a learning disability or autism and want to get back to work? Then REAL Support could be for you!

REAL Support is designed for people with a learning disability and/or autism, helping them secure paid employment, maintain their jobs, and progress in their careers. No formal diagnosis is needed, but you must provide evidence of similar support needs.

Referrals can be made by anyone – professionals, family members, or self-referrals are all welcome. Allocations are made within 24 to 48 hours.

For more information:

• Website: REAL employment | Kirklees Council
• Email: RealEmployment@kirklees.gov.uk
• Referral: Refer a person to the REAL Employment service – My Kirklees Account

Fresh Futures Employability Programme: March spaces now open!

Brian Jackson House, Huddersfield, Monday 10th March – Friday 14th March, 10.30am – 3.30pm

The Fresh Futures Employability Programme is back with a confirmed date for March 2025, and spaces are now open to be filled!

The programme provides personalised support and guidance for young adults (18-26) who are not currently in education or employment, and who would benefit from working on all elements that go into securing employment that works for them. This includes knowledge of workplace behaviours and their own skills, working on an effective CV, building interview skills and calming nerves, and the opportunity to complete a 10-day work placement in a field of their interest. All this comes through the five-day programme which runs Monday-Friday  at Brian Jackson House in Huddersfield and is followed by one-to-one support meetings after the week is over.

The next programme will take place:

Monday 10^th March – Friday 14^th March

10:30am – 3:30pm each day

Travel costs such as train and bus fares can be reimbursed, and lunch and refreshments are provided to participants

This is an excellent opportunity for any young adults who may benefit from extra support in understanding their own skills and what they are capable of. Additionally, the programme can be perfect for those who experience low confidence in the employment process.

Please contact Sophie Gilliland, Young Adults Service Support Worker, to discuss the programme further if you have any questions, or follow the link below to complete the online referral form and register your interest.

https://forms.office.com/e/uuRd7BbSbX

Sophie Gilliland: Tel: 01484 415465

 

CLEAR Men’s Talk Digital Annual Showreel Event

Connect Housing, 21 Bond Street, Dewsbury WF13 1AX, Thursday 6th March, 11 am – 1 pm

CLEAR’s Men’s Talk Digital will be holding their Annual Showreel Event on 6^th March at Connect Housing in Dewsbury.

The showreel will feature films made by the group including a recently produced short film focussing on young people who have been bereaved by suicide and supported by  Leeds Mind Suicide Bereavement Service

Johnathan Parker from Creative Frame CIC supports the men with their film making, providing training and a professional eye.

“The men have come a long way and developed some really impressive skills. When Leeds Mind contacted us about working with their young people, it was a great opportunity for the men to create something which was not only high quality, but vitally important in spreading the word about Leeds Mind Suicide Bereavement Service…the men bring their own lived experience to the process, enabling them to put people at their ease and encourage them to share their stories..”, said Jonathan.

For more information about Men’s Talk or MT Digital or to book a seat at the Annual Showreel Event, contact stuart.hawkes@commlinks.co.uk

CLEAR is a wellbeing service for adults in Kirklees run by Community Links and funded by Kirklees Council.

 

Rural Men’s and young adults health and positive wellbeing event

Skelmanthorpe Community Centre HD8 9BH – Tuesday 11th March, 6.30pm – Free event

A unique opportunity for the men within the Kirkburton and Denby Dale wards to come together for an evening of positive male brotherhood.

The aim of the evening is to combine the philosophy of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s “Just Don’t” campaign with our mission to set positive expectations for young men across rural Huddersfield. The event will celebrate the successes of others, promote mental, physical, and spiritual well-being, and explore the resources available to keep men on a positive track.

What to Expect:
• Information Stalls: Showcasing services and clubs, highlighting how they can participate and what’s available.
• Networking Opportunities: Make friendships and connections, share funding ideas discuss how groups are growing and maintaining despite today’s challenges, and connect with other local businesses and services.
• McMillan’s Darts Challenge: Raise money for cancer awareness by aiming for a combined score of 100,000.
• Comedy Show: Enjoy a performance by Graeme Rayner, aka The Gag n Bone Man, with his “Dadology” set

Scan the QR code below for full details of the events. You can also download a poster of the event here: Rural Men’s Event poster

 

CLEAR event – celebrating 10 incredible years

Brian Jackson House HD1 5JP, Wednesday 26th March, 11am – 4 pm

A heartfelt journey through the past decade—from CLEAR’s beginnings to where they are now. Stories, images, film, and live performances, will bring the journey to life.
If you know anyone who has used the CLEAR service over the years and might want to join the celebration, please feel free to invite them to the event. CLEAR would also love to hear your memories, thoughts, or reflections. Whether you want to share your experiences or simply enjoy the day, it will be a special occasion filled with nostalgia, connection, and inspiration for the future. Mark your calendar and save the date!

 

Men Walking and Talking – Huddersfield

Every Monday – Harold Wilson statue, Huddersfield train station, 6.30 pm

Men Walking and Talking provide a safe space and an opportunity for men (18+) to meet up for a walk, talk about their mental health, and get things off their chest. The Huddersfield walk is just one of 34 locations in the UK, with more being added regularly.

The website is here, if you’d like some further information:  Men Walking and Talking – Huddersfield

There is also a Facebook page called Men Walking and Talking – Huddersfield You can contact organiser, Steve, here or through the website link above.

The group meets every Monday, setting off at 6.30pm from the Harold Wilson statue in front of Huddersfield train station, and we walk for roughly 1 hour. There are also occasional social meet ups, and some longer walks scheduled on specific weekends.

It’s totally free, you don’t need to sign up, and there is no expectation whatsoever. Just come along for a walk and a chat, and feel free to talk about anything you like, or even just listen and get some exercise.

 

Welland Walks – Curious Motion, Elland

First Thursday of each month, 10am

Welland Walks are gentle and accessible walks for wellbeing, taking place monthly in Elland. An opportunity to come together with others and enjoy the wonderful benefits to your mood, sleep, and immune system that nature can offer. Each walk involves a short creative activity to explore connections to the local landscape. The walks involve a route along the canal for around an hour, and start and finish at Project Colt on Elland Bridge. Children are welcome but remain the responsibility of their parent / carer at all times.

Led by fantastic Volunteer Walk Leader, Debbie, these are informal and restorative walks to help clear the mind and warm the body.

More details, contact and booking link at Welland Walks – Curious Motion

 

Waythrough – Peer Support What’s On! January – March 2025

These activities are open to everyone aged 18 or over who lives in Kirklees and experiences mental health issues, problems, or concerns. You do not need to be seeing an employment advisor to join. Simply call the number below and ask for Karl Jackson-Lander, the Peer Support Coordinator, who will assist you to fill out a short referral form so you can attend.

Activities include: Assertiveness and Communication, Stress Management, Self Esteem and Resilience, Ways to Wellbeing, Mood and Food. Just click on the link below for full details, dates and times.

What’s On – January – March 2025 (PDF, 168 KB)

For more information or to book a place please contact:
Karl Jackson-Lander on:
Tel: 07909 993203
Email: Karl.Jackson-Lander@waythrough.org.uk

Cost of Living Information:

Click the link below to find links to websites and workbooks that can provide help and advice with money, debt and the cost of living.

Cost of Living Information – Calderdale and Kirklees

Follow us on our socials here:

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Have a great weekend and enjoy the sunshine!

The Recovery & Wellbeing College Team

ckrecovery.wellbeing@swyt.nhs.uk

 07717 867911

Calderdale and Kirklees Recovery and Wellbeing College

Correspondence address:

Ravensleigh Resource Unit
28 Oxford Road
Dewsbury
WF13 4LL