Welcome to the weekly update. We are a creative bunch here in our corner of Yorkshire! Read on to discover some excellent opportunities to get your creative juices going from involvement in Holmfirth Arts Week to local courses and offers from our College both in Calderdale and Kirklees.

And if you want to be inspired by how creativity can help you then read this recent article by Jo (volunteer, facilitator and Steering group member) that got published in the metro:

I’m not being dramatic: Crochet saved my life | Metro News

 

You will notice we have a growing number of courses in person! So please come and join us! We are a friendly welcoming place that understands how hard it can be to make that first initial step. In most cases our learners have positive experiences and come back for more! 99% of people would recommend us to their family and friends!

Carers Week – Celebration Event

Tuesday 7th June 10am-3pm at Crow Nest Adventure Playground

Bring your own packed lunch and picnic blanket and enjoy some fun activities inc:

• Wellbeing walk
• Wellbeing bus
• Craft sessions
• Tia Chi
• Massage Therapy and much more!

to book on and for more info:

Phone: 0300 012 0231

Email: info@carerscount.org.uk

Website: Carers Count Kirklees

 

C & K Recovery and Wellbeing College courses

Click below to have a browse at our full collection of courses:

View all courses

 

BRAND NEW!

Art in the Landscape: Printing with sunlight

Monday 6th June 2-4pm (1 week)

Kirklees Recovery and Wellbeing College – Mirfield

Join us at this creative workshop and learn how to print onto fabric using sunlight! We will be gathering natural items from the College garden to use in our designs.

The finished fabric pieces will be made into bunting to be displayed at the Art in the Landscape exhibition at Holmfirth Arts Festival, before being returned to the College for permanent display.

Facilitated by our creative partners from the Holmfirth Arts Festival, this workshop offers you the chance to learn a new craft technique as part of a creative community project.

If you’d like to see your work on display at the Arts Festival, free transport will be made available for you by the Festival organisers.

Art in the Landscape: Printing with sunlight – face to face

 

Drawing for Wellbeing-Neurographica

Thursday 23rd June 1-4pm

Hope Street Halifax

Neurographica is a simple and relaxing drawing technique, drawing is a great way to re-focus your mind and can be very calming. There are no skills whatsoever needed for this face-to-face workshop, which will be held at our Hope Street Halifax venue.

Drawing for Wellbeing-Neurographica – at Hope Street

 

Values, Goals and Your Wellbeing

Thursday 16 June 10am-12pm (4 Weeks)

Kirklees Recovery and Wellbeing College 

What do you want out of life? How far do your own values lie behind the choices you make?

These are important questions that many of us rarely give much thought to. Thinking about our values can help us to move forward when we’re feeling stuck, at those ‘restart moments’ in life, or when we’re seeking a path to enhance our wellbeing.

Over four weeks, we will engage in discussion with others, and use practical tools and fun activities to identify our personal values, and use them to guide us in setting achievable goals.

Values, Goals and Your Wellbeing – face to face

 

Kayaking Taster Sessions (extra dates now available)

Thursday 9 June10.45am-13.30pm – (1 week)

Thursday 23 June10.45am-13.30pm – (1 week)

Thursday 30 June10.45am-13.30pm – (1 week)

Our partners Blackdog Outdoors are running Kayaking Taster Sessions on the Calder & Hebble Navigation Canal.

During the taster session you will be introduced to Kayaking, and you will learn some basic paddling skills from a fully qualified instructor. You will then take a leisurely paddle down the canal, with the rest of the group and the instructors. This stretch of the canal is beautiful, passing through open countryside and parts of our industrial heritage, with regular sightings of moor hens, swans, geese, and other wildlife. These sessions are a great opportunity to try something new, see some interesting sights and have some fun!

Suitable for all fitness levels and abilities.

Kayaking Taster Sessions – Calderdale

 

The M Word: Menopause Awareness

Wednesday 25th May 11am-12.30pm

This learning seminar will help you develop your knowledge and awareness of the menopause; the symptoms, how it may affect you and, most importantly what you can do to manage it.  During this one-off online workshop, delivered by a qualified Health & Wellbeing Practitioner and in partnership with Henpicked, we will discuss the perimenopause, post menopause and everything in between to help you on your own unique journey during this stage of life. Information will also be shared about how and where you can access support.  This session is open to people of all genders to enable better understanding of the menopause and how to support those going through it.

This course is available to learners from Calderdale and Kirklees

The M Word: Menopause Awareness -online

 

Knitting for Wellbeing Taster

Wednesday 13th July 1-3pm (1 week)

Kirklees Recovery and Wellbeing College – Mirfield

Did you know that knitting can reduce depression and anxiety, boost feelings of wellbeing and help you to cope with pain?!  These are just a few of the many benefits so why not come along, have some creative fun and learn the basics of knitting on this beginners workshop?

In this practical, one-off taster session we will be learning how to cast on and cast off, as well as learning the basic knit and purl stitches. Join us and meet others who are also starting their knitting journey!

Delivered by our partners at Kirklees Success Centre. Yarn and knitting needles will be provided.

If there’s enough interest, we are hoping to offer a longer knitting course later in the year, allowing you to develop your skills!

Knitting for Wellbeing Taster – Face to face

 

If you are new to the College please enrol here

To book a place on a course or to find out more please contact us or visit:

www.calderdalekirkleesrc.nhs.uk/courses/

 

Covid restrictions – now changed and relaxed at the College

If you attend a face to face course inside a building:

• We will provide you with a face mask to wear around the building
• You will no longer need to wear a mask once you are seated, but as as always the choice is yours!
• We will check your temperature
• We will ask you some questions about contact with others and whether you have any symptoms
• Please bring your own refreshments and drinks

Lastly, please don’t forget we always give a warm welcome and are looking forward to seeing you in person!

 

Free climbing courses from our partner ROKT…

Our partners, ROKT Climbing Gym, are launching more free climbing courses for our Calderdale and Kirklees Learners. Don’t be put off if you have never been climbing before as ROKT climbing courses are suited to beginners. You will have a trained and experienced instructor with you to make sure you are safe and you’ll be part of a group.

In addition to bouldering and climbing, you will also get the chance to try yoga and mindfulness and challenge your mental agility and problem solving skills in one of the ROKT ‘Escape Rooms’.

Did you know climbing is good for your mental and physical health and it is fun as well!

Tuesday Evening 6pm-7.30pm OR Wednesday Evening 6:30pm-8pm

To register your interest please see the details on our website:

ROKT Climbing – Calderdale and Kirklees Recovery College (calderdalekirkleesrc.nhs.uk)

 

 

Other initiatives from local organisations:

 

Creative Writing for Well-Being Workshop

Thursday 26th May 10.30am-12.30pm

Mirfield Library

The workshop aims to guide participants through a number of creative writing exercises, which are designed to calm the mind and increase feelings of well-being. This is a free, stand-alone workshop for any Kirklees resident of aged 19+ years.
No previous experience needed. Technique is unimportant. Non-judgmental and supportive atmosphere. You never have to read out anything you have written. There is no right way, only the ‘Write’ way.

For more info

email: Success.centres@kirklees.gov.uk or call 01484 234153

 

Arts for dementia

Breathing Space is a free programme of creative activities for people living with memory concerns, or the early stages of dementia. It is also for Carers and family members. It’s a great way for people to enjoy an activity together and meet other people in a similar situation.
Activities run weekly through the year in Huddersfield and Batley. You can sign up to join in at any time.
Check the dates for upcoming activities at:

www.hootcreativearts.co.uk

Email: info@hootcreativearts.co.uk  or call 01484 516224

 

 

Art for Wellbeing

If you are creative, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced artist, join Kirklees College in a series of free workshops that will help with your mental health or simply develop your skills. You will be shown a variety of techniques to drawing and painting, print making, glass and textiles. These will help build your repertoire and knowledge of art through practical workshop activities and you’ll get the chance to meet like-minded creatives.

Globe Arts – Slaithwaite (10 weeks) starting 27th May

Pioneer Higher Skills Centre – Dewsbury (7 weeks) starting 29th April

Fir more info and to enrol contact:

info@globearts.org.uk

01484 842887

Globe Arts Studio Carr Lane Slaithwaite HD7 5AG

 

Get Set Goal – Helping you to achieve your wellbeing goals

This is a free service delivered by health care students from the University of Huddersfield. The students are supervised by registered health care professionals. We offer a series of online appointments, of up to 45 minutes each, typically over a 4–6-week period,
focussing on improving your general health and wellbeing.

This service is for members of the public (18+ years of age) who would like support in making positive changes to their lifestyle.

We are currently offering virtual/online and telephone sessions only. There are plans to offer face-to-face sessions soon.

For more information or to book an appointment, please email GetSetGoal@hud.ac.uk
Appointments will generally be offered Monday to Friday, 10:00 – 15:00 (excluding Bank Holidays)

 

Richmond fellowship online workshops:

Open to everyone aged 18 or over who lives in Kirklees and experiences mental health issues, problems or concerns.

COPING WITH COVID – 2 week workshop starting on the 23rd June 1-3pm offers practical advice and tips on ways to maintain mental wellbeing.

For more information or to book a place please contact:

Karl Jackson-Lander: 07909 993203

email: Karl.Jackson-Lander@richmondfellowship.org.uk

 

Can you help?

Being Well Together: A health project for Calderdale

We would like you to help us create an important information project for local people about Annual GP Health Checks? You can earn some money by sharing your experiences with us.

We’d like to include people with lived experience of mental health needs and we’d love to talk to you and help us make a film.

We would like to hear your experiences – good and bad about accessing a health check. This might include having a one-off chat with us or by being involved in one of our short creative films. It depends on what you are comfortable with, you won’t be under any pressure, but your involvement will be really valued and could make a big difference to other people. You will be paid for your time.

If you or someone you know may be interested or if you would like more information please contact:
Jeff on 07926 978651
Email: jeff.vdg@btinternet.com

 

Join us on Facebook and Instagram:

C & K Recovery & Wellbeing College | Facebook

https://www.instagram.com/ckrecoveryandwellbeingcollege

Stay safe and reach out

 

The Recovery & Wellbeing College Team

ckrecovery.wellbeing@swyt.nhs.uk

 07717867911