Dear Students, Staff and Friends
 
We hope you and your loved ones are safe and well with everything that is going on around the world now.
 
In line with NHS advice, SLaM have taken the decision to cancel all SLaM Recovery College courses until further notice. We are very sorry for the disappointment this may cause, and hope you understand that this was not a decision taken lightly.  We hope we can be back up and running as soon as possible, but we are currently aiming to start the summer term later than we originally planned, so it will be a shortened, 10-week term, 8th June – 14th August.

Why we are cancelling: the health evidence is clear. We know that cold and flu viruses spread effectively from person-to-person through coughs and sneezes, and coronavirus is no different.
​
Therefore, if we can reduce unnecessary gatherings of people we can simply interrupt the spread of infection. This recommendation about cancelling group meetings is not about panic or anxiety - it is our attempt, in keeping with the rest of the NHS, to take reasonable and measured steps to delay the spread of coronavirus.
For an overview of COVID-19 (coronavirus), click here.
 
Remember the importance of washing your hands for 20 seconds: this is your best defence against the spread of infection.
 
This is the latest guidance on testing and calling NHS 111:

•  Stay at home (self-isolate) for seven days if you are experiencing a high temperature and/or a new continuous cough. Do not call NHS 111. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
• The NHS will no longer be testing people who are self-isolating with mild symptoms.

For more stay-at-home guidance for people with confirmed or possible COVID-19 (coronavirus) infection, click here.

And here are two links to information about how to look after your mental health during this time, the first from the Mental Health Foundation, the second from the BBC:
 
https://mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51873799

Two fantastic courses from the Comedy School and SLaM Recovery College, made possible by funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. Build your confidence with other beginners, while having fun!
 
If you'd like to take part in either or both, please choose on of the two taster sessions for each course and let us know (each course has two taster sessions with 16 places on each; then, from the 32 students, 16 will go forward onto the full seven-week course).

Venue:
SHARP Building
308 - 312 Brixton Road
London
SW9 6AA
N.B. The SHARP team are no longer there but everyone in that group of buildings still call it “the SHARP building”.

Stand-Up Comedy: taster session followed by a seven-week course
 
Over seven weeks, this course will guide you through the process of becoming a stand-up comedian - from writing your first piece of material to your debut performance! Topics covered include:

• Generating Material
• Developing Performance Skills
• Discovering Your Comic Attitude
• Examining Stage Persona
• Exploring Joke Structure

Sessions are run by sensitive professionals from the comedy circuit. The course culminates with an informal sharing, in which you perform a short comedy routine to a warm and friendly audience.

Stand Up Comedy: a taster session A
Two and a half-hour workshop
308-312 Brixton Road | 2pm-4:30pm | Tuesday 05 March

Stand Up Comedy: a taster session B
Two and a half-hour workshop
308-312 Brixton Road | 2pm-4:30pm | Tuesday 12 March

Stand Up: Full Seven week course
Seven week course | Two and a half-hour workshop each week
308-312 Brixton Road 1 | 2pm-4:30pm | Tuesday 19 March
308-312 Brixton Road 2 | 2pm-4:30pm | Tuesday 26 March
308-312 Brixton Road 3 | 2pm-4:30pm | Tuesday 02 April
308-312 Brixton Road 4 | 2pm-4:30pm | Tuesday 09 April
308-312 Brixton Road 5 | 2pm-4:30pm | Tuesday 16 April
308-312 Brixton Road 6 | 2pm-4:30pm | Tuesday 23 April |
308-312 Brixton Road 7 | 2pm-4:30pm | Tuesday 30 April

Improvisation: taster session followed by a seven-week course
 
The Comedy School’s expert tutors will guide you through the fundamentals of improv all the way to basic performance readiness. No previous experience of improvisation or performing is required. Topics covered include:

• Unblocking the imagination
• Making offers
• Positivity
• Listening
• Collaborating

The course culminates with an informal sharing, where the group performs an improv show together to a warm and friendly audience.

Improvisation: a taster session A
Two and a half-hour workshop
308-312 Brixton Road | 2pm-4:30pm | Thursday 07 March

Improvisation: a taster session B
Two and a half-hour workshop
308-312 Brixton Road | 2pm-4:30pm | Thursday 14 March

Improvisation: Full Seven week course
Seven week course | Two and a half-hour workshop each week
N.B. Please note that the second session is in the morning, not the afternoon
308-312 Brixton Road 1 | 2pm-4:30pm | Thursday 21 March
308-312 Brixton Road 2 | 10:30am-1pm | Thursday 28 March
308-312 Brixton Road 3 | 2pm-4:30pm | Thursday 04 April
308-312 Brixton Road 4 | 2pm-4:30pm | Thursday 11 April
308-312 Brixton Road 5 | 2pm-4:30pm | Thursday  18 April
308-312 Brixton Road 6 | 2pm-4:30pm
Thursday  25 April | 308-312 Brixton Road 7 | 2pm-4:30pm | Thursday  02 May

Dear Students
 
We’re delighted to be able to announce that we now have dates and a venue for the LGBTQ+ Dare Sessions. Please find below information on:

• Eligibility
• Course details
• Dates and venue
• Monitoring and evaluation
• The application process
• Pre-course individual meetings

 
Do take the time to read the document as there’s quite a bit of information to process. Or download it here.
 
Please note that to take part in these sessions you must identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community and also be either:

• a current or recent (within the last six months) South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) service user or
• a carer of someone who uses SLaM services (currently or within the last six months). N.B. By ‘carer’ we mean in a personal capacity (i.e. family member, partner, friend etc.) not in a professional one.

 
Your first step in applying will be to fill out a brief online survey here: https://bit.ly/2sGFpFA. Don’t worry if you haven’t got access to a PC because it’s very easy to fill in on a mobile phone. N.B. You cannot register for this course by contacting the Recovery College.

 A free, eight-week course, preceded by a coffee morning (no commitment to the full course required).

For further information, or to book a place, please contact the EPEC Project ON 020 3228 3914 or at epec@slam.nhs.uk  - do not contact the Recovery College!

Here's the flyer as a pdf.

Our community colleagues at Project Dare have spaces available on their upcoming body confidence course.  Please see the information below for details.  Please note that this is not a Recovery College course and we are unable to answer questions or emails regarding the course. 

The course is not free, but see below for information about funding.

Project DARE! Be Body Confident

What is it?
The course, designed by Ursula, is called 'The Dare Sessions: Dare your way to confidence, self-compassion, and a positive body image'.  It is a 12-week course (3 hours per week 1.30pm-4.30pm) on Tuesday afternoons beginning on September 18th in Elephant & Castle. Each week explores a different area of body confidence in a creative way utilising theatre and the arts.  A session typically comprises of a warm-up, learning, a team mission, and reflection. The workshops tap away at insecurities, bring out confidence and inspire love for the body in a celebratory, innovative and fun way.  All the sessions work with both the mind and body - you will move around! If you would like more details please visit the Project Dare website. 

Who is it for?
It is specifically designed for students who would like to work on nurturing a positive body image and increase both their self-esteem and confidence. The sessions are designed for all fitness levels, shapes and sizes and no prior skill set is required. However, students must be willing to work as a team. This is because the course is all-practical group work with a wide variety of tasks to undertake including acting and various performance styles. 

How do I book?
A place on Project Dare costs £420.  If you receive care and support from a Community Mental Health Team, you may be eligible for funding available through a personal budget application.  Please speak to your care-coordinator or key worker for further information.  Students may also be able to access the course via personal health budgets by getting in touch with the Lambeth Living Well Network Hub (0203 691 5080) or Southwark Wellbeing Hub (020 3752 9684)  - we advise speaking to your support worker.   We are sorry but we are unable to assist in making funding applications. 

Further Information
If you would like further information on the course you can e-mail info@projectdare.co.uk or ursula@projectdare.co.uk directly.

Testimonials from previous 'Darers'
"The best bit for me was overcoming an intense inner fear, meeting the other participants and being so out of my comfort zone. Dare is really friendly, trusting and inspiring"
“I laughed A-LOT! “
"At Project Dare, you meet and get close to people in a way that wouldn't normally ever be possible"
"Another highlight of the course was being able to express myself openly and honestly without fear of judgement"
"My body is beautiful" 
 
Daring Wishes..
Ursula Joy (07507 530 929)
Project Dare. Body Adoration
Visit www.projectdare.co.uk
Find me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Book on a Project DARE! Be Body Confident 2-Hour taster Workshop HERE!

Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the Recovery College, the ‘Making Changes Day One’ workshop tomorrow has been cancelled. All students have been contacted by email, text message or voicemail this evening. The workshop will be rescheduled. Please contact the college office on 020 3228 3643 for further information.

As you can see, this project isn't open to Croydon residents. But the Career Management Service have told us this

"Here is a link that students can follow if they wish to self-refer into the Croydon IAPT service: https://slam-iapt.nhs.uk/croydon/welcome-to-croydon-iapt/. We are currently in the process of recruiting a new Career Coach for the team – so once they have been assessed by the service, clients can ask to speak to the Career Coach for employment support. Croydon IAPT do have some temporary employment support cover from a local employment project so there is currently some provision, although this is limited."

In conjunction with SLaM Partners, Renatus Consulting and SLaM’s Experience, Participation and Involvement Department, SLaM Recovery College is offering an exciting new nine week evening course to support service users and carers interested in becoming leaders within SLaM NHS Foundation Trust.
This course aims to help participants to understand the role and expecations, the organisational context, their own leadership style and the pathways into service user and carer leadership.  By the end of the course, participants will have developed  knowledge , skills and attitudes to empower them to explore or become involved in leadership opportunities such as within Service User and Carer Advisory Groups (SUCAGs) or as a Council of Governors member.
This course is being co-produced and delivered by people with lived experience of mental ill-health or distress as service users or carers and staff members from SLaM’s clinical and corporate services.

Workshop topics will include:

• What is Leadership and why do we need it?
• Understanding Your Own Approach to Leadership
• Organisational Culture and Context

• Coaching Skills
• Coproduction Principles
• Effective Communication
• Chairing Meetings
• Quality Improvement and Change Management

COURSE INFORMATION
When:   Tuesday Evenings for 8 weeks from 24thth October until 12th December 2017 plus a graduation and celebration event at a later date in the new year.              
Where:  6:00pm-8:30pm, Ortus Learning and Events Centre, Grove Lane, Camberwell
Who:    Service users and Carers connected to SLaM NHS Foundation Trust. (Priority will be given to people who are new to leadership roles within the       organisation. If demand for course places exceeds capacity, applicants may be asked to submit a statement about their reasons for participating.)
Cost:   Free to all participants

To enrol:  Please complete this enrolment form (you can fill it out on your PC, then save it) and return to:
SLaM Recovery College
Attn: Kirsty Giles
1st Floor Administration Building
Maudsley Hospital
Denmark Hill SE5 8AZ    or email to Kirsty.Giles@slam.nhs.uk
 
For Further information please contact:
Kirsty Giles, SLaM Recovery College Manager on
Kirsty.Giles@slam.nhs.uk
or
Kathryn Hill, Head of Experience, Participation and Involvement on
Kathryn.Hill@slam.nhs.uk or Tel: 07968 247 886