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Weekly Update

College News

September 24, 2026

Welcome to our weekly update.

As autumn gets underway, there’s plenty happening across the Recovery & Wellbeing College. This week we’re delighted to share an article from Sara, our Creative Practitioner, reflecting on The Masks We Wear course and the powerful conversations, creativity and self-discovery it has inspired. It’s a wonderful insight into how creative approaches can help us explore identity, wellbeing and the ways we present ourselves to the world.

With a wide range of courses, workshops and community opportunities available, now is a great time to book onto a course and get involved. Don’t forget to explore the opportunities and events listed below to see what’s happening across our local communities.

We’re also looking forward to celebrating World Mental Health Day at Mirfield Community Centre on Monday 12 October 2026, from 10:00am to 12:30pm. We’d love to see you there, and remember you’re welcome to bring family, friends or anyone who might benefit from joining us.

If you’re looking for your next course, workshop or community opportunity, be sure to explore the links below and see what’s coming up across Calderdale and Kirklees. We hope you’ll find something that sparks your interest and supports your wellbeing journey.

Coming up soon

Food and Wellbeing course Thursday 8 October 2026 at 10.00am-12.30pm – Project Colt, Elland

We all have a relationship with food. For some of us, this relationship can be complicated and comes with some difficult emotions. In this one-off workshop, our Recovery Coaches Laura and Paul will guide a discussion to share your thoughts and experiences around your relationship with food. We’ll share ideas, listen to each other’s experiences, explore ways to cope, and what’s challenging. Your experiences and opinions will help shape future courses.

Food and Wellbeing: Your Voice – Calderdale and Kirklees Recovery College

Let’s explore this together. You can also complete our survey to help shape future courses and support.

Food & Wellbeing Survey – Fill in form

Featured Article:

In this personal article, Sara shares how creativity became a way to explore emotions when words felt out of reach. She reflects on the inspiration behind The Masks We Wear and how the course helps people gently explore the layers of themselves they show, hide, and protect.

The Masks We Wear grew out of my own experience of struggling to put complex emotions into words. Living with mental health challenges has taught me that feelings aren’t always neat or easy to explain, and sometimes language just isn’t accessible.

In therapy, I was once asked to write a letter. I couldn’t do it. What helped instead was finding my own way through creativity, using colour, texture, marks, and layering to express what I couldn’t say out loud. That experience stayed with me and became the heart of this course.

The course uses creative techniques to explore things many of us live with, such as masking, imposter syndrome, and the gap between how we appear in public and how we feel on the inside. Creating masks allows people to explore those layers gently, without pressure to explain or analyse. Masks can be built up, embellished with personal items, or layered in ways that feel meaningful to the person creating them.

Some learners have shared that they found the course particularly thought‑provoking. It gave them a chance to explore why they might wear a mask in everyday life, what it protects, what it hides, and what it allows them to get through. For many, noticing this in a creative way felt safer and more accessible than talking it through.

I often describe The Masks We Wear as journalling without words. It works on a different part of the brain and can be supportive when talking feels like too much. What really matters to me is that people often want to come back to the course. Even if you’ve done it before, you tend to discover something new. The themes stay the same, but what emerges is always evolving.

For me, this course is about creating a space where emotions can be explored with kindness, honesty, and creativity, especially when words aren’t enough.

If this article has resonated with you, The Masks We Wear will be returning to North Kirklees next term. Keep an eye on our course listings for dates and booking information.

Date for your diary…

World Mental Health Day 2026

We’re delighted to be celebrating World Mental Health Day at Mirfield Community Centre on Monday 12 October 2026, from 10:00am to 12:30pm.

This year’s theme, “Real Voices, Real Recovery”, reflects the Recovery College’s commitment to co-production, where people with lived experience work alongside staff and professionals to shape learning, share skills and support recovery.

Join us for a morning of wellbeing, creativity, learning and connection. There will be a range of free workshops, including printing, jewellery making and textiles, alongside many other fun activities designed to boost wellbeing, build confidence and help people connect with others.

You’ll also be able to find out more about Recovery College courses, peer support and local wellbeing services.

Whether you’re new to the Recovery College or have joined us before, everyone is welcome.

Keep an eye on our social media channels and future updates for more information about the activities and opportunities available on the day. 💚

No need to book on… just turn up and feel free to bring friends and family.

Spaces on courses – book now to avoid disappointment:-

See our Autumn programme for next half term, so if you’re thinking about what to try next, now’s a great time to plan ahead. Just click on the timetable icon to see what’s coming up.

My Meds, My Life

Wednesday 7 October 2026 – 1.30pm-3:30pm – Project Colt, Elland- 2 weeks

Click Happy: Creative Photography Journeys

Thursday 1 October 2026 – 1.30pm-3.00pm – Mirfield Community Centre

Click Happy: Creative Photo Editing

Thursday 8 October 2026 – 1.30-3.30pm – Mirfield Community Centre

ADHD Awareness

Thursday 1 October 2026 at 1pm-3.30pm – Folly Hall – Huddersfield
Tuesday 15 December 2026 at 10am-12.30pm – Ravensleigh Resource Unit, Dewsbury

Food and Wellbeing: Your Voice

Thursday 8 October 2026 – 10.00am-12.30pm – Project Colt, Elland
Wednesday 21 October 2026 at 1.00pm-3.30pm – Mirfield Community Centre

Click here to find out more as well as our full timetable of courses

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:

Email: ckrecovery.wellbeing@swyt.nhs.uk or call us on: 07717 867911 or you can 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.

Recovery College Learner Portal

Once enrolled, you can use the portal to easily request courses and view what you’ve attended.
Use the links below:

Learner portal link

User guide

Community Offers

In the spotlight this week:

Kirklees College have now announced their list of current adult courses, with links to their Facebook page, direct links to courses and open day dates. Click on the links below.

Adult and Community Education face book page – https://www.facebook.com/share/18CCvGwNMY/

Adult courses on the college website https://kirkleescollege.ac.uk/adult-learners/

Introduction to working in schools https://kirkleescollege.ac.uk/course/introduction-to-working-in-schools/#join-this-course

Introduction to self-employment https://kirkleescollege.ac.uk/course/introduction-to-self-employment/#join-this-course

Beginners sewing techniques (Dewsbury) https://kirkleescollege.ac.uk/course/beginners-sewing-techniques/

Next steps sewing (Dewsbury) https://kirkleescollege.ac.uk/course/next-steps-sewing/

Christmas rag wreath classes https://kirkleescollege.ac.uk/course/festive-crafts-rag-wreath-making/

College upcoming Open days- https://kirkleescollege.ac.uk/event/october-open-day/

Go to our web page for more info on the amazing offers and opportunities from local community organisations:

Local community information – Calderdale and Kirklees Recovery College