Creating a Recovery College Course

Co-production is at the heart of what our recovery college does, particularly when it comes to production and writing courses that incorporate lived experience. Co-production is a process that involves working in partnership with people who have lived experience of mental health challenges, to design and deliver services that meet their needs and priorities.

At our recovery college, we believe that people with lived experience are experts in their own lives and have valuable insights and perspectives that can inform and enrich our courses. By involving people with lived experience in the design and delivery of our courses, we ensure that our courses are relevant, engaging, and effective in supporting people's recovery journeys.

Writing courses are a great example of how co-production works in practice. We work with people with lived experience to co-design the courses, ensuring that they reflect the experiences, interests, and needs of our learners. We also involve people with lived experience in the delivery of the courses, as facilitators or guest speakers, who share their personal stories and insights with our learners.

Co-production is a two-way process that benefits both our learners and people with lived experience. Our learners benefit from the knowledge and expertise of people with lived experience, who offer a unique and valuable perspective on mental health and recovery. People with lived experience, on the other hand, benefit from the opportunity to share their experiences and contribute to the development of courses that can benefit others.

We have seen first-hand the positive impact that co-production can have on our courses and our learners. Our production and writing courses are highly rated by our learners, who appreciate the opportunity to learn from people with lived experience and to explore their own creativity in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Overall, co-production is a key part of what makes our recovery college unique and effective. By working in partnership with people with lived experience, we can ensure that our courses are relevant, engaging, and effective in supporting people's recovery journeys. We believe that everyone has something to offer, and we are committed to creating an inclusive and collaborative learning environment where everyone's voices are heard and valued.

Want to develop a Recovery College Course?

Creating a course can be a complex process that involves a range of considerations and factors to ensure its success. Our guide is designed to provide you with a comprehensive overview of all the things you need to think about when delivering a course, from planning and preparation to delivery and evaluation. 

You can download our 'Want to develop a Recovery College Course?' along with templates to help you plan and examples to review from our downloadable resource section on the Home page of our website