NT LIFE is the Recovery College for North Tyneside…
Helping people learn new positive ways to deal with the stresses of life, understand themselves better and find purpose.
Recovery Colleges offer educational courses about mental health and recovery, which are designed to increase students’ knowledge and skills and to help them feel more confident in the self-management of their own health and wellbeing.
Delivered in a safe and friendly community setting, courses and workshops are co-produced and designed by individuals who have lived experience of challenges with their own mental health, and who want to pass on their LIFE learning, skills and knowledge to help others. Read on to find out how to get involved!
Get Involved
AS A STUDENT…
NT LIFE welcomes people with lived experienced of mental health challenges, their families, and/or carers and for those who work in the mental health field.
All sessions are co-produced by individuals who have lived experience of challenges with their own mental health (experts by experience), carers and trusted research literature and resources.
The perspective of a person with lived experience gives them a unique insight and empathy with fellow participants
We would love for you to engage with us in any of the following:
- Enrol
- Sign up for activities, groups, courses, workshops
- Share your thoughts on what would help you engage with us
- Give us ideas of where you would look for information for mental health support
- Tell us how we can eliminate barriers for you to help you access the college
The inclusive nature of the college means that students and volunteers:
- Require no educational qualifications
- Get to choose their own courses.
- Courses are free of charge
- Open to all North Tyneside Residents 18 yrs +
- Participation is valued
AS A VOLUNTEER…
As part of NT LIFE’s commitment to people’s recovery and wellbeing, we aim to encourage and develop our students to volunteer in the growing programme we offer. In 2023 we partnered with Northumbria and Sunderland Universities by providing placements for Occupational Therapy and Teaching students, who volunteered with us. Julie and Jess, part of our current staff team, were both volunteers prior to their employment. Proving there are many benefits to volunteering including but not exclusive to:
- Gain confidence
- Make a difference
- Meet new people
- Make new friends
- Be part of a community
- Learn new skills
- Take on a challenge
- Find a purpose
- Have FUN!
NT LIFE is developing a number of opportunities to help people: increase their knowledge, skills and experience, helping them to achieve their goals. Volunteer roles are flexible and include a variety of experiences:
- Administrative
- Peer support
- Facilitator and Co-Facilitator roles
- Course Development
- Practical contribution e.g. making stuff to share within our wider community
Training, support and agreed expenses are available. Please note, some roles will require DBS checks.
Register your interest below to find out more.
For more information contact:
- Ali Donkin ali.donkin@voda.org.uk
- Alice Holliday alice.holliday@voda.org.uk
- Julie Bishop julie.bishop@voda.org.uk
- Jessica Shaw jessica.shaw@voda.org.uk
Interested?
To register your interest, please complete the Expression of Interest Form below.
You will then be contacted by a member of the team to arrange a one-to-one session, either by phone, in person or via Zoom. This will be used to discuss your interests, needs and to enrol you on to the courses and workshops of your choice. Follow the link on the right to see our latest prospectus, then use the form below to tell us more.
We look forward to meeting you and beginning your NT LIFE journey!
You will receive a confirmation email once you have submitted this form. Please check your junk folder if you do not receive your confirmation email.
By submitting this form you consent to VODA processing your information in order to allow us to provide you with further information about Recovery College services. Read our full Privacy Statement here.
NT LIFE Blog
NT LIFE Recovery College Wellbeing Session with Independent Advocacy North East (IANE)
NT LIFE Recovery College Wellbeing Session with Independent Advocacy North East (IANE) – 11th September 2024 by Ali Donkin I had the pleasure of delivering a lunchtime wellbeing session to the fantastic team at Independent Advocacy North East (IANE). For those unfamiliar, IANE ensures the voices of vulnerable people are heard, providing vital advocacy services […]
Case Study: Peer Supporter Hannah
Read on to learn how peer supporter Hannah co-created NT LIFE’s new Neuro-divergence Group… As a peer supporter, the idea of a neurodiversity group came very early to me. I recognised that I had the opportunity to create a group that could help neurodiverse people find a safe place to be themselves. It is particularly […]
Exciting start to NT LIFE Recovery College’s fifth year of deliveries
As September 2023 approaches, we recognise the growth we have made since our inception in 2019, with only one staff member employed for 3 days/week; NT LIFE has developed and is now proud to welcome a fourth person to the staff team, Jess Shaw. Congratulations Jess, we are excited to see the progress you will […]
Howay the Lads!
Howay the Lads! Would you like to co-design and co-create a Men’s Mental Health Group or simply be involved? Men’s mental health is an important yet often overlooked health concern (medicalnewstoday.com) “Both men and women experience mental health difficulties. However there are some notable differences between the issues affecting them and the factors that influence […]
