Mid and South Essex Recovery College

The newly established Mid and South Essex Recovery College serves as a symbol of hope and empowerment for more residents across Essex.

This initiative is a joint effort by Inclusion, part of Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with Mid Essex Recovery College, part of Provide Community, and Trust Links.

With a deep understanding of the local community, we are excited to announce plans to expand our courses into the Basildon, Brentwood, Billericay and Wickford area, which has previously lacked this important service. From Tuesday 1 April 2025, all partners will make their existing courses available to residents in these areas. These courses will be accessible online, and some will be offered in-person for those who are able to travel. Please see the information below on each of the three partners and their FREE course offer which you can book onto.

In the coming months, we want to engage with residents and stakeholders in Basildon and Brentwood to help shape the future offerings of the recovery college in this area. If you’d like to get involved, please reach out to us at MSE.Recoverycollege@mpft.nhs.uk.

What is a Recovery College?

A Recovery College is all about providing an educational learning environment for people who experience difficulties with, or have an interest in, mental health and wellbeing. The courses available support recovery – a journey of discovery, to find hope, happiness, health and opportunities.

All of the courses being offered by our partnership are free of charge and open to anyone, aged 18 or over, living in the Basildon and Brentwood areas.

Inclusion Recovery College

Inclusion Recovery College is based in Thurrock, offering online and in-person workshops along with a weekly Recovery Café in Grays. Sessions throughout April and May 2025 include:

Progress with visualisation
Creating mindfulness
Yoga for everyone
Mindful walk
My rested self: sleep
Ways to wellbeing: learn
Understanding depression
Introduction to navigating emotions

To view the Inclusion Recovery College course offer, more information on each session and to book your FREE place please click here.

Mid Essex Recovery College

Mid Essex Recovery College offers free courses and workshops that cover practical and creative topics, to support your mental health and recovery.

Some sessions are held virtually, others are in-person, in Chelmsford, Braintree, South Woodham Ferrers and Maldon.

Courses and workshops throughout April and May 2025 include:

Bereavement and loss
Sleep and mental health
Self care tools for anxiety and stress
Mindfulness and compassionate listening
Living better with chronic pain
Introduction to volunteering
Therapeutic photography
Finding and retaining employment
Anger management

To see the full list of sessions available, more information and to book your FREE place please click here!

Trust Links – REACH Recovery College Programme

The REACH Recovery College programme contains three modules: Understanding, Managing and Maintenance. Each module consists of five weekly sessions, carefully developed to build upon each other and support you at every stage of your recovery journey.

Some sessions are held virtually, others are in-person and are held in Rochford, Westcliffe, Shoeburyness, Rayleigh, Thundersley, Canvey Island and Basildon.

Alongside the key modules, additional sessions throughout April and May cover the following topics:

Morning mindfulness practice
Healthy sleep habits
Labyrinth workshop
Cooking with confidence
Anger management

Find out more about REACH, their April and May timetable and to book your FREE place, please click here.