The Recovery Education Centre celebrated its 10 year anniversary! (2012-2022) 

Last year we began celebrations to commemorate 10 years of the Dorset Recovery Education Centre (REC). We asked students, staff and anyone who has accessed us, to join us to reflect on a decade of recovery education in Dorset. 

We first introduced REC courses in the Spring of 2012 and went on to deliver our first full term that September. Our aims were to share experiences, raise awareness of the REC and celebrate learning. 

To celebrate we invited you to share ‘What you have learnt with us?’ 

There are a number of ways that you can still get involved.

Book of Learning

You can share your thoughts, memories and learning from attending the REC with us in a variety of ways e.g. using pictures, words, music or any other way that is meaningful to you. Our virtual Book of Learning will sit on our webpage above and we can continue to add to it. 

If you would like to add to the book, please contact us on 01202 584478 or email dhc.recovery.educationcentre@nhs.net, and we can email or post you a copy of our information and consent form to complete. This will include details needed for submission. Please note we may not use all contributions submitted and we will not be able to return any postal contributions (you may wish to submit a copy or photograph instead of original work). 

Scroll down to see some examples of contributions we have already received.

Workbook

Our 10 Years of the REC workbook can be used for self-directed learning and reflection. Please contact our office and we will be happy to send you a workbook. 

Examples of contributions:

Words

On our REC staff away day, we asked the team to think of one word to represent what they had learnt with us. A few of the chosen words were: hope, values, aspire and growth. 

"I attended my first REC course three weeks after being discharged from a Home Treatment Team and was still under a Community Mental Health Team, I had also been supported by an Early Intervention in Psychosis Team too, so I was used to discussions around mental health being very serious and clinical.

At the REC, it was lovely to have relaxed conversations and laugh during talking about mental health for the first time ever! It was from then I knew that I wanted to become a peer specialist to give that experience to other people too."

Hannah (DMHF, Peer Specialist)

Art

Kate, our assistant co-ordinator and admissions tutor, painted this image during her induction when asked to think about what recovery meant to her.

There may be other artistic mediums that you wish to explore, for example, drawing or creating a collage. 

Drawing by Leo, REC Student, during 

one of our 10 year reflection courses.

Hello and welcome to our new series 10 Voices for 10 Years which is part of our celebrations to commemorate 10 years of the Dorset Recovery Education Centre.

In this series, we will be talking to different people for whom the REC has been an important part of their lives. 

Our fourth and final part of the 10 Voices for 10 Years series is a podcast.

In this discussion, Kate, Avril and Alissa speak with four REC students, who reflect on their experiences of attending courses and the impact this has had on their recovery journey. We are very grateful to these students for their time and courage in sharing with us all.  

Click here to listen

Figures correct as of 12.08.22

Here we share details of upcoming REC social events as well as local community events that we are attending. Please read below for more information. We look forward to seeing you at events in the future!

The REC will be attending the following free health and support pop-up in Boscombe on Thursday, 28 March 2024. 

Click here to find more event details including location and timetable.

In support of World Mental Health Day 2023, the REC attended two local events:

Harmony Breathe event in Bridport.                                                                     On Track event at The Tank Museum in Bovington.

BCHA Festival of Wellbeing 2023

Jo (REC Co-ordinator) and Jane (DMHF Peer Lead for Education) had a wonderful time at the BCHA Festival chatting to both existing students and potential new students, along with other local mental health support services.

Feel-Good Band Workshops

In partnership with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and a peer from Dorset Mental Health Forum, we were delighted to offer two Feel-Good Band taster sessions. The workshops were an opportunity for everyone to explore how music can help improve their well-being. The sessions were led by BSO Associate Sam Mason and Tia Roos, a peer from the Dorset Mental Health Forum, accompanied by a trio of musicians from the world famous orchestra. 

We loved meeting you all and listening to the wonderful tunes you created!

Forum Festival

Our partners, the Dorset Mental Health Forum, celebrated their 30^th birthday with a community festival at Dorchester Rugby Club! They enjoyed meeting members of the REC and the community, taking part in wellbeing activities, sharing stories and learning new things together.

Beach Day

In May we enjoyed a beach day with the Forum's Sports and Social team as part of Mental Health Awareness Month in Poole. We had beach huts, played games and sports like beach football and volleyball and had wonderful conversations with you. Thank you to those who came along and joined us in the sunshine, we hope to see you at more events in the future.