Help shape 'Your Ideal Recovery & Wellbeing College'

The Cardiff and Vale Recovery & Wellbeing College has been a huge success since its launch in Autumn 2020. In a first of its kind in Wales, the college provides free educational courses on a range of mental health, physical health and wellbeing topics. Anyone is welcome to enrol as a student and courses take place online, as well as in-person, at venues across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The college has facilitated 225 workshops, over 605 teaching hours and registrations from 683 students since it launched.

Peer support is at the core of all courses available, co-produced and co-delivered by health care professionals and peer trainers with lived experience of mental health and physical health challenges. Course leads use their experience to support others in their recovery.

Co-production underpins the Recovery & Wellbeing College as the first co-produced, peer led mental health service in Wales, not only through the development of courses, but engaging with people in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan on how the college is run and what its curriculum looks like. The college hosts regular Open Forum sessions where updates are provided and people are invited to share their views. Additionally, the college’s Board has student representatives and since the college was established it has worked in partnership with the Third Sector, carers and service users.

Nick Andrews, Research and Practice Development Officer at Swansea University, said: "I came across the work of the Recovery & Wellbeing College through my involvement in a Welsh Government funded evaluation of co-production. In this study, we came across many examples of poor co-production practice across Wales. In contrast, the work of the Recovery & Wellbeing College stood out as an example of genuine and life changing co-production. Through my interviews with practitioners and peers in the college, I discovered the multiple benefits of authentic, values-based co-production including more effective learning, enhanced wellbeing and participatory service development. In my opinion the college is an oasis of co-production and demonstrates the principles and aspirations of health and social policy and legislation in Wales". 

Now, the Cardiff and Vale Recovery & Wellbeing is inviting people to get involved in exploring the direction of travel for the college beyond its infancy. The success of the college means it is now at a pivotal point where next steps need to be identified to ensure that the model is sustainable and continues to provide an exceptional offering to the Health Board’s local population.

Daniel Crossland, Mental Health Clinical Board, Interim Director of Operations, said: “Our Recovery & Wellbeing College has far surpassed expectations, not only due to the hard work and commitment of the college team, but also the students who have enrolled and engaged with courses and wider organisations who have been a huge support. We’re really excited about the future prospects of the college and would like to invite people to take part in co-producing our plans for the future.”

How to get involved…

The Recovery & Wellbeing College would like anyone from Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan with an interest in the college to attend a series of online sessions called ‘Your Ideal Recovery & Wellbeing College’ which will inform the co-production of business plans. The college wants to ensure prospective plans are designed in a way that are reflective of the needs of the local population.

‘Your Ideal Recovery & Wellbeing College’ Zoom sessions:

  • Friday 18th February, 1-2pm (Session topic: Venue)

  • Friday 25th February, 1-2pm (Session topic: Resources and staffing)

  • Friday 4th March, 1-2pm (Session topic: Education and wellbeing priorities)

  • Friday 11th March, 1-2pm (Session topic: Working with our wider community)

  • Friday 18th March, 1-2pm (Session topic: Evaluation and outcomes)

  • Friday 25th March, 1-2pm (Session topic: Future priorities)

Face-to-face session:

  • Friday 1st April, 1-2pm (Session topic: All themes)

Findings and next steps Zoom session:

  • Friday 8th April, 1-2:30pm

 For access information to the above sessions, please email Cardiffandvale.Recoverycollege@wales.nhs.uk highlighting which ones you would like to attend. Whilst some sessions have a focus theme there will be opportunities to contribute more widely.

The sessions will be facilitated by Alex Congreve, Mental Health Clinical Board Co-production Lead, and Daniel Marsh, Graduate Management Trainee. At the sessions, there is no obligation to have your camera turned on though we do encourage this. It is up to individuals how much they participate and people can also contribute through the chat bar. For anyone who is unable to attend a session but would like to contribute, please email the college to arrange a conversation.

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