Weekly Update

Welcome to the Weekly Update.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday to celebrate 10 years of the Recovery College. It was a truly special day, and your presence made it even more meaningful. The atmosphere was full of warmth, connection, and hope—exactly what the Recovery College is all about. Hearing our learners’ voices and sharing their journeys was incredibly moving, and the positive feedback we received has been overwhelming. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together over the past decade, and yesterday reminded us why we do what we do. Here’s to continuing this journey for the next 10 years and beyond!

A special thanks to Ali for leading on the Celebratory Quilt and for everyone who made a sqaure! It looks amazing (see featured picture).

If you have any photos, reflections, or feedback from the day, we’d love to hear from you—please share them with us.

Thank you once again for being part of this milestone celebration.

If you haven’t already read our latest monthly newsletter, Keeping Connected, the link is still here.

Keeping Connected September 2025

Download this ground-breaking new creative health app designed to make creativity accessible to all through a series of painting, drawing, movement and creative writing exercises. Explore the app by downloading on Apple or Google Play. You can read more about it here.

Calling all colleagues…

If you support anyone who might benefit from the Recovery College, join our online Introduction to the Recovery College for Professionals to discover what makes us unique, how our courses change lives, and how to help others get involved — details below.

You can also explore our new course My Meds, My Life, co-produced by a Peer Worker and SWYFT pharmacy colleagues, to learn more about mental health medications.

And don’t forget — your wellbeing matters too. Professionals, supporters, and carers are welcome on all our courses, so feel free to book onto anything that interests you!

Exciting Courses Ahead – Book Now!

Our September and October courses are filling up fast — so don’t wait, check them out and book your spot! If a course you’re interested in is full, just let us know and we’ll pop you on the waiting list in case a space opens up.

There are still plenty of courses with availability, including those highlighted below — take a look!

A Gift To Yourself
Tuesday 16 September – Project Colt – 10am – 12pm – 4 weeks.

Over four relaxing and creative weeks, you’ll be guided through making a variety of handmade items that are perfect for self-care or thoughtful gifts for loved ones.

Moving into Mindfulness Outdoors – Calderdale and Kirklees Recovery College
Tuesday 16 September – Greenhead Park – 9.45am – 11.15am – 5 weeks

Join Peer Worker, Laura and Recovery Coach, Erika for this five-week course where together we will explore the essence of mindfulness in nature.  We will discover different ways of practicing mindfulness within the beautiful setting of Greenhead Park in Huddersfield.

Monday 15 September – Dewsbury – 1pm – 3.30pm – 2 weeks

Mental health medication can be a lifeline — but it can also raise questions, concerns and side effects. Whether you’re currently taking medication, have done in the past, or are simply curious, this two-week course offers a welcoming and safe space to explore how medication fits into your life and recovery journey. With SWYT’s own Pharmacy Team, and Peer Worker, Laura.

A Plan for Living Well Information session

Tuesday 30 September  – Arcade Pop-Up Dewsbury – 2pm – 3.30pm
Tuesday 21 October  – Project Colt Halifax – 1.30pm-3.00pm

Join us for this information session and discover more about A Plan for Living Well  A potentially life changing course that will help us to create our own wellness plan and get back into the driving seat of our lives! Please note that learners must have completed at least two previous courses or workshops with us and attend this introductory session to participate in the full course- it’s a great way to make sure the course is the right fit for you at this time.

Electronic Music

Tuesday 14 October – Project Colt Halifax – 10.00am – 12.00pm – 5 weeks

Over 5 weeks you will be supported to create your own electronic music track from start to finish! You will learn how to use a Digital Audio Workstation so that you can create a complete electronic music track using one piece of free software. This is a course designed for beginners, so you don’t have to have any experience of using digital audio workstations previously. You can create your very own unique piece of electronic music at the end of the course.

View our full course offer here:

You can 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)

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.

Recovery College 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

 

Important notice

On Sunday 7 September 2025 there will be a national UK emergency alert test.

Mobile phones in the UK will be sent a test emergency alert at around 3pm on Sunday 7 September 2025 as part of plans to strengthen the country’s preparedness.
The emergency alerts system is used to warn if there’s a danger to life nearby, including extreme weather. It allows vital information and advice to be sent to people rapidly in an emergency.
During the test, mobile phones will vibrate and make a loud siren sound for roughly ten seconds, even if they are set to silent. A message will also appear on phone screens, making it clear the alert is only a test.
Victims and survivors who have a secret phone that they may hide from an abusive partner must be informed to take action to prevent the phone from activating.

The alerts can be turned off in device settings under ‘emergency alerts’.
Refuge have provided a video to inform victims and survivors how to ensure their secret phone (iPhone and Android devices) does not play the notifying sound.

 

Community Offers

What’s On in Kirklees

Click https://communitydirectory.kirklees.gov.uk/communityDirectory/whatsOn.aspx to browse a wide range of events.

Coming up soon…

Creative Minds Autumn Fun day for adults with learning disabilities

Thursday 18th September – 10.30am – 2pm (Please arrive for a check-in at 10.30am, pitch activities start at 11am)

The Zone, St Andrews Road, Huddersfield, HD1 6PT (Near Huddersfield Town football club stadium).

Whats on:

• Gentle standing or sitting yoga with the ever popular Umbrella Yoga
• Join the lovely NHS learning disabilities staff for some gentle fete games
• Dance with hoot creative arts
• There will be a stall with health and wellbeing information eg falls prevention, the benefits of physical activity, winter health, hospital passports, physical health checks.
• Photo booth
• Tabletop activities

Booking is essential as places are limited. Please email Alex alex.feather1@swyt.nhs.uk with the form below, or phone Alex on 07827 232698.

Note: the venue doesn’t have a changing place hoist toilet. There is a reasonably priced café but you may want to bring a packed lunch and fluids. Parking is free and plentiful, so minibuses/cars are welcome.

As some of the activities are physical and involve using equipment there’s a handy pre-exercise readiness questionnaire below if you need it.

LD funday booking form sept 2025 (DOCX, 15 KB)

LD Fun Day Physical Activity Readiness questionnaire (DOCX, 97 KB)

LD funday poster sept 2025 (PDF, 275 KB)

 

Lantern parade at Crow Nest Park for World Mental Health day – Thursday 9th October

Crow Nest Park, Heckmondwike Road, Dewsbury WF13 2SG, 4.00 – 7.30 pm

Come and celebrate World Mental Health day with the Working Together Better Partnership. Lantern Parade around the park
between 6.30-6.45pm. Lots of activities on the night: Nature based workshops, free vegan food, interactive stalls, make your own lantern and much much more…
Please note: Access to toilet facilities may be limited on the day
Feel free to bring your own lanterns – strictly no flying ones.

You are also welcome to attend our drop-in workshops to make your own lanterns at:

• CLEAR, Huddersfield – Monday 8th and 15th September – 10am – 3pm (Drop in) – 2nd Floor Lion Chambers,
  John William Street, HD1 1ES
• Carers Count, Dewsbury – Friday 12th and 19th September – 11am – 3pm (Drop in) – 4th Floor, Empire House,
  Old Wakefield Road,WF13 8DJ

See also lantern making workshop poster below for details.

Lantern Parade EVENT Poster 2025 (PDF, 1 MB)

Lantern Making Workshops (1) poster (PDF, 2 MB)

Lantern Parade Stalls Form BOOKING (DOCX, 24 KB)

If you would like a stall on the day to promote your service, please see attached booking form and return to hannah.cochrane@inspirenorth.co.uk – contact info also on booking form.

Holmfirth Tech

Visit https://holmfirthtech.co.uk/whats-on/ for the events listings

Growing Works

Harvest Celebration and AGM – Nurturing Healthy Lives Outdoors – Wakefield Road Allotments, Dalton

Saturday 4th October 2pm – 4 pm. Join us for seasonal food, gardening activities, nature crafts,  All ages and abililties welcome, children to be supervised by an adult. Blue badge parking only on site. For more information contact Kat or Rachel at info@growingworks.org.uk

Sprout at Crow Nest Park Adventure Playground

Sprout is for families with children with SEND/SEMH (no diagnosis needed) age 12 and below alongside their families to socialise, enjoy the outdoors and have fun with their peers. It runs every Saturday 10am – 12pm at Crow Nest Park, Dewsbury.

Bud – Adult Volunteering at Wakefield Road Allotments, Dalton
Our regular Bud adult volunteer sessions run every Tuesday and Thursday 10am – 1pm, travel expenses available and soup at lunchtime. It’s harvest time at Wakefield Road Allotments, and everything is growing so quickly so lots of weeding too, always different tasks according to interests and ability, accessible site and shelters for rainy weather.

Dalton Community Gardens – Open Sessions
Everyone is welcome on Monday afternoons, 1–3pm, at the garden next to Rawthorpe and Dalton Library until end of September. Help care for this beautiful urban space and support local wildlife.

Flyers for all activities can be found on the website Session Times and Information – Growing Works

 

For more activities to do with health and wellbeing visit: https://communitydirectory.kirklees.gov.uk/communityDirectory/ThingsToDo.aspx?q=health

https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/community-plus/our-events.aspx

What’s On in Calderdale

Click https://www.visitcalderdale.com/whats-on/ to browse a wide range of events.

You can also find more events at https://calderdaleforum50plus.com/events-activities/

Coming up soon..

What’s On at Project Colt, Elland

Housed within the historic walls of Elland’s Bridgefield Mills, Project Colt is a safe space full of understanding and open to people who may need extra support.

More than just a building, our mill is a thriving hub brimming with activities, workshops, a bustling cafe, and unique shopping experiences.  People can connect, learn, create, and support one another.

Browse the link at https://www.projectcolt.org.uk/whats-on/

Dementia services and support event- Monday 8th September – 1-2.30 pm
Apna Staying Well Hub, Hanson Enterprise Centre HX1 5PG

For many, living with or caring for someone with dementia can be a challenge. Often, we may not even truly understand what is happening or feel like we can reach out for help.

The Alzheimer’s Society are hosting an event in our Apna Hub, here in the heart of Park Ward. Here you will receive key information, be able to ask important questions and have conversations in a safe, supportive and confidential environment. Let’s speak openly about our health and get the support that we need. This will allow us and our families the best opportunity to spend quality time with each other when we need it most.

To RSVP, either reply to the email below or contact the Alzheimer’s Society on 07354165663

Telephone:  01422 347 392        Mobile:   07519997924      Email: rachel.porter@regen.org.uk

 

Women’s Health after 40 – with Calderdale Cancer Aware – Thursday 11 September 1-3 pm
Apna Staying Well Hub, Hanson Enterprise Centre HX1 5PG

Are you experiencing symptoms and not sure what they mean? Searching for like-minded women to chat to about issues? Or are you simply curious about the changes that are going to happen to you and your body? Are you struggling with these? You are not alone. Come to the Women’s Health After 40 event hosted by a female doctor. There will also be professionals from Overgate, Talking Therapies, Spring Hall Practice, Calderdale Learning Disability Community Health Team, and of course, your wonderful Calderdale Cancer Aware team around to have informal chats and ask important questions to.

Light refreshments and healthy snacks will be served
There is some on-street parking available or come by foot.

Telephone:  01422 347 392        Mobile:   07519997924

Email: rachel.porter@regen.org.uk

3-2-1 Walks: Get outdoors and enjoy easy to follow routes in Calderdale!

Build your fitness and improve your health with 3-2-1 Walks from Active Calderdale and Calderdale Forum 50 Plus. Choose from easy-to-follow routes and see how far you can walk in a week or a month. Getting active by walking regularly can improve both your physical and mental health. Our short, easy-to-follow walks can be enjoyed alone or in the company of family and friends.

More information at 3-2-1 Walks – Calderdale Forum 50 Plus

You can also find more information on walking in Calderdale at https://www.visitcalderdale.com/visitor-information/walking-in-calderdale/

Physical Activity Ideas: Mixenden, Illingworth, Ovenden & Boothtown

Active Calderdale have published some very useful physical activity guides for Mixenden, Illingworth, Ovenden and Boothtown.

See https://calderdaleforum50plus.com/2025/08/05/physical-activity-ideas-mixenden-illingworth-ovenden-boothtown/ for more information.

Grow Well

Get your hands mucky, get active and meet new people every Wednesday from 9am – 12pm at the Outback Community Garden, Halifax. For details click here: Grow Well Gardening for Wellbeing sessions – Halifax Opportunities Trust

 

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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Have a great weekend

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