Keeping Connected and the weekly update

Welcome to Keeping Connected and our weekly update. Thanks to Robert for his article in Keeping Connected. It was heart warming to read his story of how attending the College has changed his life and enabled him to get back to work!

We are moving into Mirfield Community Centre this next week – so do bear with us as we are busy packing up and clearing out! Did you know we started nearly 10 years ago in Calderdale and Kirklees! It is good to know that we have a secure and bright future with new staff delivering courses in new venues. You can also read about Erika in Keeping Connected and hear about her personal journey to wellness.  You can read about all the team here here.

PLEASE NOTE: Our office base will be in Dewsbury. Our correspondence address will be:

Calderdale and Kirklees Recovery and Wellbeing College

Ravensleigh Resource Unit
28 Oxford Road
Dewsbury
WF13 4LL

Please do not send any mail or correspondence to our Pathways address

Keeping Connected May 2024

Recovery & Wellbeing College courses:-

Click the icon below for details:

Coming up soon..

The Golden Age of Hollywood: The Directors

Mirfield Community Centre, Water Royd Lane, Mirfield, WF14 9SG

Wednesday 5 June 2024 1pm – 3.45pm 4 weeks

Join us as we head back in time to the early 20th Century and learn about the Golden Age of Hollywood!

On this popular four-week course, delivered by a couple of friendly and enthusiastic Recovery College volunteers, we will learn about the influential directors in the early years of the movies. Learn about the famous, the infamous – and the less well-known – directors who helped to shape the world of cinema, such as Hitchcock, Hawkes, Curtiz, Wilder and Ford.

Golden Age of Hollywood: The Directors

Writing for Self-Expression

Online

Friday 7 June 2024 10.00am – 11.30am 4 weeks

Expressive writing is about self-expression. It helps us to think about our experiences and put our thoughts and feelings into words. In this welcoming course, we’ll take time to reflect and write in a safe, friendly and confidential atmosphere that fosters personal awareness and wellbeing.

These friendly, online sessions delivered by our partners at the Royal Literary Fund will be facilitated by a professional writer and one of our Peer Workers. Each week we’ll consider a short piece of published writing and talk together about the impact the words have on us. Writing prompts and exercises will be offered, encouraging us to write about our own experiences, thoughts and feelings.

Writing for Self-Expression

Creating Comic Strips

Mirfield Community Centre, Water Royd Lane, Mirfield, WF14 9SG

Thursday 13 June 2024 12.30 pm – 3pm 6 weeks

Did you love comics as a child? Are you enjoying the new exciting popularity of old favourite comics being brought to life on the silver screen? If so, why not learn a new skill and join our new Creating Comic Strips course? On this 6-week journey we will look at story boards, character design and developing stories. You’ll get to see your very own comic strip come to completion! All materials provided.

Creating Comic Strips

Creative Wellbeing Walks (Calderdale)

Come along and join friendly facilitators, Jess & Mick as we head out and enjoy the great outdoors for a walk in beautiful tranquil settings across Calderdale.

Ogden Water, Calderdale  Thursday 2 May 2024 11am – 2pm 

To read about a previous learners experience on these creative wellbeing walks click here: Wellbeing Walks: a beacon of hope

Creative Wellbeing Walks (Calderdale)

Creative Wellbeing Walks (Kirklees)

Beaumont Park, Huddersfield, Meltham Road, Huddersfield, HD4 7BQ (meet at the sign next to the lodge at the entrance to the park)

Thursday 9 May 2024 11.30 am- 2.30 pm

Mirfield to Whitley route, Hagg lane, Mirfield, WF14 8QG

Thursday 16 May 2024 11.30 am- 2.30 pm

Oakwell Hall Country Park, Birstall, Nova Lane, Birstall, WF17 9LG (meet at visitor centre next to main car park on Warrens Lane)

Thursday 23 May 2024 11.30 am- 2.30 pm

Slaithwaite Canal Walk, Carr Lane, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, HD7 5AG. (car park opposite the Co-Op)

Thursday 30 May 2024 11.30 am- 2.30 pm

Come along and join friendly facilitators, Jess & Mick as we head out and enjoy the great outdoors for a walk in beautiful tranquil settings across Kirklees. Supported by Creative Minds, these sessions will also provide the opportunity to try some creative activities during the walks including, arts and crafts, photography and creative writing. So, please join us on this wellbeing adventure and learn some new ways to give your mood a boost.

There will be four walks in different locations across Kirklees over consecutive weeks, you can book on as many (or as few) as you like!  Please note that there are some steep climbs on the first three walks. There are also no toilets on the Mirfield and Slaithwaite walks. The Slaithwaite walk is more gentle in nature. All the walks will include breaks for creative activities and there is free parking near to all the starting points. Please bring a packed lunch and wear appropriate clothing and footwear according to the weather. Tea and coffee will be provided. For full details of the routes click on the link below.

Creative Wellbeing Walks (Kirklees)

Self Esteem and Resilience

Thrive at Connect Housing, Dewsbury, 21 Bond Street, Dewsbury, WF13 1AX

Tuesday 7 May 2024 1pm – 3pm 2 weeks

Delivered by the ever lovely, Karl at the Richmond Fellowship, this two week course will help you discover how to improve feelings of self worth and to build self esteem.  Together we will look at practical ways to maintain and increase our resilience against the stressors and strains of daily life and learn how to weather those storms!

Please be aware that due to Richmond Fellowship’s funding, priority will be given to learners living in Kirklees. 

Self Esteem and Resilience

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 use your learner portal

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

If you are new to the College please enrol here.

Wed 1. May 2024 at 19:30 – 20:30
Wed 8. May 2024 at 19:30 – 20:30
Wed 15. May 2024 at 19:30 – 20:30

Art4All Natural Dye Workshop

Sat 11. May 2024 at 12:00 – 14:00
Sat 8. Jun 2024 at 12:00 – 14:00

Woodlands Road, Wilton Park, Batley WF13 OAS

bagshaw.museum@kirklees.gov.uk

Phone: 01924 324765

Facebook page

We will explore the wide range of uses of woad including:
• Dyeing fabrics and clothing
• Different styles of printing
• Eco printing
• Vat dyeing
• Using woad to paint ceramics and
• Even ways to stain shells, wood and feathers.

Participants can join us on just one, several or even all of our workshops to find out what a diverse and interesting plant woad really is.
During the workshops, participants will have the opportunity to create their own samples and items to take home, record a learning journey with woad and take part in a unique series of workshops to better understand this amazing plant.

£20 per person.

Kirkwood Memory Walk- 22nd June

22nd June- John Smith’s Stadium 10 pm

It’s a circular 6 or 10 mile walk around the streets of Huddersfield, setting off from 10pm. We all know the benefits for our mental and physical health of getting outside and going for a walk, which is why we want to encourage as many people as possible to sign up and take part in this year’s event. This year’s event, kindly supported by Syngenta, is set to be bigger and better than ever, with amazing entertainment and loads of activities for the family to enjoy as the clock ticks down to 10pm! Sign up today to receive your free T-shirt and a fabulous fundraising pack featuring lots of tips and tricks to help you raise funds to help The Kirkwood Support Life!

There is a brand new group rate, of signing up 10 or more people for £7.50 per person, walk as a group, with friends and colleagues, this includes a walker pack, tshirt, walker number, finisher medal and breakfast butty. More details about the walk can be found here

If people are unable to participate in walking itself, we are also looking for volunteers to help deliver our most successful event yet. There are a number of roles that we are needing help with such as registration desk, start line marshals and medal handouts to name but a few of the roles available.

Click here to register as volunteer –    volunteer form

https://www.thekirkwood.org.uk/how-you-can-help/events/memory-walk

Facebook link – The Kirkwood Memory Walk 2024 | Facebook

Calder Navigation Society- Events

Savile Boat Trips at Brighouse Artisan Market
Sunday, 28 April 2024 and 1 & 2 June (Brighouse 40s weekend)
The artisan markets are a place where you can take delight in discovering hidden gems and find out more about the fantastic produce Brighouse has to offer. You can also enjoy a boat trip on the canal on the Calder Navigation Society’s trip boat “Savile”. These will run from Behind Sainsbury’s every half hour. Book yours on the day, please try to book early as these trips are very popular!

https://calderns.org.uk/events/

Heads Up Programme for Men’s Mental Health

Foundation launches new group to fight stigma and support men’s mental health

– Heads Up provides safe and welcoming space for men
– Huddersfield Town Foundation launches new group in Mirfield
– Weekly drop-in sessions also available at the Community Hub from Wednesday 10 April

Huddersfield Town ‘Heads Up’ programme

Richmond Fellowship

Media Centre, 7 Northumberland Street Huddersfield

May 10th 9.30-12.30pm

Alongside Kirklees College we are starting to run a 7 week Maths and English booster workshop. If you would like to attend please contact:

Karl Jackson- Lander at Kirklees Employment Service

Karl.Jackson-Lander@RichmondFellowship.org.uk

07909 993203 or  01484 434 866

Creative Scene – Art in the Park

Join our friendly, creative Tuesdays to explore the benefits of both art and nature at Earlsheaton Park. We will use our natural surroundings as a starting point for a range of creative art projects.  For both beginners and experienced creators alike. Work with local, professional artist Rachael Gorton whose work investigates connections with nature and wellbeing. Come along to as many sessions as you like but places are limited, so please book by emailing: henry@creativescene.org.uk

Sessions for adults run on Tuesdays from 12.30pm – 2.30pm on the following dates: 14 May, 18 June, 23 July

Long-COVID: Recover Together Programme – Calderdale

Culturedale – 13th April 2024 to 5th April 2025

From 13th April 2024 to 5th April 2025, we will be celebrating Calderdale’s 50th anniversary with a year-long programme of creativity and activity. CYOC24 is a testament to the spirit of our borough. We’re partnering with our borough’s incredible creatives, businesses, and residents to bring culture and creativity into the fabric of everyone’s lives.

Full listing of events

Visit https://www.culturedale.co.uk/events to find out more.

Just a selection of current events- keep looking for updates

Moquette Textile Design- Everybody Arts – April 12th to May 3rd https://www.culturedale.co.uk/events/moquette-textile-design—everybody-arts

Creative Screenprinting inspired by Moquette- Everybody Arts – April 20th  https://www.culturedale.co.uk/events/creative-screenprinting-inspired-by-moquette—everybody-arts

An evening with Chand Ali Khan Qawwal and Party – April 25th- note that limited tickets available https://www.culturedale.co.uk/events/an-evening-with-chand-ali-khan-qawwal-and-party

Centre for Mental Health research into voting

If you have experience of a mental health problem, the Centre for Mental Health wants to hear from you about voting. They’re undertaking research into the barriers that people with mental health problems might face in exercising their right to vote. By sharing your experience, you’ll be helping to promote voting rights for all.

They’re especially keen to hear perspectives from people living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Please share this research call with your networks to help reach more people.

How to get involved

Complete a questionnaire

This should take you only three minutes to fill out. It will help us better understand the barriers to voter registration for people with mental health problems. There will be a prize draw for a high street voucher for £100.

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

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We hope you have a great weekend

The Recovery & Wellbeing College Team

ckrecovery.wellbeing@swyt.nhs.uk

 07717 867911