MSE Recovery College
Mid and South Essex Recovery College offers free courses and workshops to support your mental health and recovery.
The MSE Recovery College runs a wide range of courses, workshops and activities to help you better understand your mental health and learn strategies to manage it better. If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, low mood or a similar mental health condition, the team can support you with your wellbeing and on your road to recovery.
All of the courses being offered by Mid and South Essex Recovery College are free of charge and open to anyone, aged 18 or over.
What is 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.
Our Timetable
If you are a member currently booked onto a course, and you can no longer attend your session, please inform a member of staff at the earliest opportunity possible.
Courses & Workshops
Module One – Understanding (5 weeks)
• What is Mental Health? What is Recovery?
• Understanding Anxiety, low mood and depression
• The Fight/flight/freeze/fawn responses – Brain and Body Connection
• Neuroscience and the Nervous System
• Going forward with new awareness and an introduction to Module two –
‘Managing’
| Date | Time | Location |
| Tuesday 6th January | 10am – 12pm | Rochford |
| Monday 12th January | 7pm – 8pm | Online |
| Friday 16th January | 10am – 12pm | Rayleigh |
| Monday 23rd February | 1.30pm – 3.30pm | Canvey |
| Thursday 26th February | 1.30pm – 3.30pm | Westcliff |
| Thursday 26th February | 1.00pm – 3.00pm | Vange |
Module Two – Managing (5 Weeks)
• Anxiety Management Tools & Techniques
• Introduction to Self-Compassion and Journaling
• Healthy Sleep Habits
• Introduction to Mindfulness
• Grounding techniques and introduction to Module three – ‘Maintenance’
| Date | Time | Location |
| Tuesday 6th January | 10am – 12pm | Thundersley |
| Monday 23rd February | 7pm – 8pm | Online |
| Tuesday 24th February | 10am – 12pm | Rochford |
| Friday 27th February | 10am – 12pm | Rayleigh |
Module Three – Maintenance (5 Weeks)
• Routine, Physical Wellbeing, Food and Mental Health
• Boundaries and Healthy Relationships
• Recognising Strengths and Achievements and Protective Factors
• Resilience and Self Compassion
• Moving Forward – Your Next Steps and What’s in the Community
| Date | Time | Location |
| Wednesday 7th January | 10am – 12pm | Shoebury |
| Thursday 8th January | 1:30pm – 3:30pm | Westcliff |
| Tuesday 24th February | 10am – 12pm | Thundersley |
Arts and Crafts for Wellbeing – 6 weeks
Join us and take part in a variety of creative arts & crafts activities. You can expect a supportive environment where people’s voices come together and creative juices overflow.
| Date | Time | Location |
| Wednesday 25th February | 10am – 12pm | Shoebury |
Cooking with Confidence – 6 weeks
This course is aimed at boosting your cookery confidence. Every week you will learn a new recipe using easily available, budget-friendly ingredients. The collective learning environment allows members to share tips and learn from each other.
| Date | Time | Location |
| Tuesday 6th January | 1.00pm – 3.00pm | Rochford |
Seated Yoga – 4 weeks
Join us for a gentle chair based yoga class, including breathwork and meditation. The chair is used to sit on for your practice and/or used as a support, if comfortable standing. A gentle practice to ground yourself and restore your body and mind. This course is funded by Active Essex’s ‘Find Your Active fund’.
| Date | Time | Location |
| Wednesday 7th January | 10am – 12pm | Canvey |
Yoga & Mental Wellbeing course for 17-25 year olds – 10 weeks
This 10 week course for 17-25 year olds is funded via Active Essex Foundation’s Transition Age project.
Each session includes yoga practice and group activities for managing mental wellbeing, e.g. creative activities, cooking, journalling and more.
| Date | Time | Location |
| Thursday 8th January | 6.00pm – 8.00pm | Thundersley |
| Monday 23rd February | 6.00pm – 8.00pm | Rochford |
Anxiety Tools & Techniques Workshop
We all experience anxiety at times – that ‘butterflies in your stomach’ feeling when you worry about sitting exams, going for an interview or seeing the dentist. It is a natural feeling and can be useful, as it can help us perform better or warn us when we need to act if in danger. However, anxiety can be
persistent, excessive or over-whelming. It can begin to interfere with many aspects of our life – from confidence, to seeing people, going out and engaging in everyday activities. This workshop introduces students to a variety of techniques and different approaches to build skills & strategies for anxiety management.
| Date | Time | Location |
| Monday 12th January | 10am – 12pm | Basildon Town, Unity Centre |
Dealing With Panic Attacks Workshop
Covering: Why do people have panic attacks, The panic cycle, triggers, thoughts, and feelings, exercises to help during an attack, long term strategies to help prevent attacks.
| Date | Time | Location |
| Monday 2nd February | 10am – 12pm | Basildon Town, Unity Centre |
