Hello Students, Colleagues and Friends

We understand how difficult a time this is for everybody, and particularly for people who experience long term health conditions.
As we are unable to offer any classroom-based workshops at the moment, we have been working behind the scenes to develop some online content, including vlogs, webinars and e-learning.

We are delighted to be able to offer you access to our first webinars, starting this week. We’ll email you again with information on webinars coming up in the following weeks.

We are making these sessions available to everyone – you don’t need to be a SLaM Recovery College student or have any connection to SLaM. All we ask is that you answer a few questions and let us know which sessions you’d like to be a part of, and we’ll then send you links to the webinars you’ve chosen.

This week’s webinars:

Introduction to Mental Health First Aid | 2:30pm-3:30pm | Tuesday 21st April

The Ayurveda Way to Wellbeing, a programme of 20 sessions. This week’s sessions:

Being Physically Active | 2:30pm-3:15pm | Wednesday 22nd April
In this session you will learn about the benefits of physical activity, what the international recommendations are for exercise and how to overcome barriers.

Mindfulness of Breath | 2:30pm-3:15pm | Friday 24th April
In this session you will learn and practice the art of mindfulness of the breath. These sessions are suitable for complete beginners and advanced mindfulness practitioners alike.

Daily Mindfulness Sessions. A rolling programme of sessions about mindfulness, movement and self-care. This week’s sessions:

Wednesday Mindfulness | 10:30am-11:15am | Wednesday 22nd April

Thursday Mindfulness | 10:30am-11:15am | Thursday 23rd  April

Friday Mindfulness | 10:30am-11:15am | Friday 24th  April

If you are interested, click on the link below and take a minute or two to complete the form; we will then send you joining links to your chosen webinars. You’ll also be able to use the links to watch recordings of the webinars after the live event has ended.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=SuTPoS5olUqOctA7m1iHqjpd3n-l3AxAj-8hQpHMfNlUNjVSRkpSRDZVOUxQUDdFWDhJUTk3MDdVUS4u

We’ll also send you a pdf guide on how to join a SLaM Recovery College webinar.

Please feel free to share this information with anyone who you think might benefit.

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."