Dear Learner,

Welcome to our 11th weekly edition of Keeping Connected. We have had some great feedback from

many of you who have sent us kind words about how much you have appreciated this publication as

well as the many articles submitted and your responses to those. Thank you for taking the time to do

this and keep the feedback and articles coming! They do make a big difference to all of us, especially

people who are isolated and disconnected from others. It is important to remain positive although this

has been very challenging recently. Since 1st June we have seen a relaxing of some restrictions of

lockdown by the Government and there seems to be some confusion about what exactly the new rules

mean. I was quite shocked to see the film footage of crowds of people in Ilkley and in the Dales this last

weekend. The Coronavirus is still with us and unfortunately will be so for some time to come. We

should continue to remind ourselves to keep safe by social distancing to two metres apart and not to

meet indoors with anyone outside of our households to protect ourselves and those we love.

Stay safe, keep in touch and read on!

Matt Ellis, Principal 5 June 2020

Keeping Connected

With Kirklees & Calderdale

Recovery Colleges

We would love you to share your own good news stories or how you are keeping yourselves well during this difficult time. Please get in touch / submit articles to: Recovery.kirklees@swyt.nhs.uk or write to us at Recovery College c/o Folly Hall Mills, St Thomas Road, Huddersfield HD1 3LT. Please note all content correct at time of

writing.

Recovery College

Recommends….

Wellness Recovery

Action Plan App for your

smart phone or tablet

Desert Island Discs

This week’s Castaway is Sara from Calderdale

Fave Book: The Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.

I am re-reading all these novels for about the fourth time now, my favourite

one changes depending on my mood. I’m currently reading Wyrd Sisters.

Fave Songs: How can I only pick five?! Again this all depends on my mood;

Sunshine on Leith – The Proclaimers

The Joy of Living – Ewan MacColl

Martha – Tom Waits

It’s Good To Be Alive – Imelda May

My Love’s in Germany – The Trials of Cato

My album would be Rumours by Fleetwood Mac or Hide and Hair by The Trials

of Cato. Not a bad track on either of these albums, I could (and do) listen to

them over and over.

Luxury Item: Pair of glasses. I’m sure I’d be able to find all sorts in order to be

creative (that is one of my basic needs, right up there with water, food and

shelter) but I would need to be able to see what I’m doing!

A Week in ‘Words in Mind’ by Heather, W.I.M Volunteer

Monday: I ring the Words in Mind Project Manager, Elaine. It’s been ages

since I last popped in the office and we spoke face to face. We chat about

the groups we have coming over the summer. I know we have a virtual

volunteer huddle meeting with the folks from Kirklees Recovery College

tomorrow and if I can, I want to grab Gary and chat about comics. I’m full

of ideas though when I look at my desk, it’s a right mess! I straighten up a

few bits. I’m reading a book about Byron so I lose half an hour in a whirl

of castles and intrigue.

Tuesday: I’m really stressed today. I didn’t sleep much, my partner is

having a tough day with his chronic pain. I log onto Zoom to record a

podcast chat with Halima. Halima runs creative writing groups in

Wakefield. We bond over the poems we love – we’re both Wendy Cope

fans – but by the time it’s done, I’m exhausted and anxious. I email the

college and Elaine to say that I can’t manage the huddle. While I feel a bit

guilty, I know that Elaine and the staff understand. I re-read Wendy

Cope’s poem ‘The Orange’ and give my partner a hug. As the poem goes,

I am glad I am alive.

Wednesday: I use the Libby library book app to borrow books. Right now

I’m reading ‘Revenge of the She Punks’ by Vivien Goldman. It’s about the

history of women in Punk music. I’m frustrated with the lockdown

confusion and talk of schools returning. I make a Spotify playlist of the

punk music in the book and channel my anger into housework.

Thursday: I join Elaine and volunteer, Emma on a Zoom Words in Mind

session for the staff at Huddersfield Uni. The staff work from home, one

by one, we all log in. My internet connection is wonky. I end up buffering

like a Dalek. It is good to see some new faces and feel useful again, I get

very lonely indoors with nothing to do. It turns out that lockdown is

tough on us all. Against my better judgment, I pop to the supermarket,

the sight of everyone in masks and gloves makes me feel so sad. I begin

hearing voices. By evening time, I decide to try the new Trust’s Mental

Health Helpline, because my self harm urges are strong and I promised

my Therapist I’d reach out. The helpline person is really kind, he reminds

me that while feeling isolated and sad is normal, I’m not worthless

because I can’t make everything better. Sometimes, the words that make

the biggest difference come when we reach out for help. I feel calm

enough to sleep.

Friday: I jot down some ideas for Recovery College Words in Mind

sessions. I think of the learners that I got to know just before lockdown,

and mentally send them love and support. I release the latest podcast

episode of our volunteer Noel and walk the dog. I’m just walking down

the hill, the wind whipping the wild grass around my feet and my hair

around my face, as Noel singing ‘Up on the Roof’ comes

through my headphones.

Maybe things will be ok, after all.

Connecting

Through

Creativity! One of the many

benefits of arts in regards to our

mental health is the connection we

make through enjoying being

creative with other people.

Although it is great to occupy your

time with different art and craft

projects, it can also be beneficial to

share your work, or even work on

projects with others, when possible.

One of our Crafty

Volunteers, James

has, single-handedly

designed a wonderful

activity that will

hopefully make you feel connected

with others through the end result.

The aim of this activity is for you to

design your own flower, then submit

it to us where we (James) will put

everyone’s floral images together

digitally into a large mosaic style

piece.

You can create any kind of flower

you like, it can be a real flower like a

tulip or daisy or it could be a fantasy

flower you imagine and

design from scratch.

We would like you to

decorate these flowers

in creative ways; ever seen a tulip

with blue spots? That’s okay! You

can create it. Why not shape your

petals like guitars or have leaves

with black and yellow stripes?

Anything goes! Click on the link for

full details

https://

www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/wp

-content/uploads/2020/04/JPearson

-Group-Project.pdf

Chilli Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

500 Grams of Strong White Bread Flour

1-2 Teaspoons of Salt

1 Packet of Fast Acting Yeast

I-2 Teaspoons of Dried Chillies

300ml Luke Warm Water

Method:

Place flour in a bowl & add salt to one side

Place yeast in bowl, opposite side to salt

Add dried chillies & mix all ingredients together

Add half of the water & mix by hand

Continue to add water a little at a time until it forms a dough

Rub some oil onto a clean work top (1-2tsps approx.) then knead till dough springs back to touch

Place dough back in bowl cover with cling film and rest until it doubles in size

Take dough out of bowl, knock air out and knead for 5 mins & shape dough into a ball

Cover with a tea towel on a floured baking tray until doubled in size

Slice top of dough & brush with salt water

Place a tray of boiling water in bottom of a pre-heated oven and bake for 30 minutes at 200 C

Bread is ready when it makes a hollow sound when you tap the bottom

Gary’s Top Tip: It takes a long time to make bread but I find kneading relaxing and its something to do when your stuck in the house all day other than watching telly. Instructions on how to knead bread can be found on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZqkPHkVcDM

Culture Club…….. Did you see the article in

the news about the gentleman who wrote his wife a

poem every single day? It amounted to over 8,500

poems! We haven’t had that many submitted to the

RC but here is another beauty by learner, Jayne.

Isn’t she a clever girl!

Castle Hill

There is a castle on yonder hill

It oversees our town

A grand old master, standing tall

Proud to hold its crown

When weary from our travels

We look out to glimpse a view

A welcome sight, that calls us back

From places old and new

There is a castle on yonder hill

It oversees our town

It keeps all of its secrets

Safely in its crown

It makes us proud of who we are

And from where we came

We want visitors to view it

Then they can feel the same

It brings to us a comfort

From all of the unknown

For us it is the castle

That lets us know we're home

There is a castle on yonder hill

It oversees our town

No other place is worthy

to wear its trusty crown

Looking for Calm?

This Online Mindfulness Course

delivered by Hopeful Families offers 1

hour weekly sessions every Thursday at

1pm to provide some space and calm

from life’s everyday stresses. Using the

video conferencing platform, Zoom, the

Coach will teach techniques you can use

at home to help you relax and feel more

able to cope.

If interested please email:

Lisa.connolly@regen.org.uk

Recovery College Contact:

07717 867911

Recovery.kirklees@swyt.nhs.uk

Recovery.calderdale@swyt.nhs.uk

Discover recovery college kirklees

Calderdale.RC

@RecColCalKirk

Www.kirkleesrecoverycollege.co.uk

Www.calderdalerecoverycollege.co.uk

Quiz: All Creatures Great & Small

1. Plays New Zealand Rugby

2. Keeps This From the Door

3. Adieu to Male Offspring

4. Large Scandinavian

5. Shakespeare Tamed One

6. One Swallowed Jonah

7. Not Done on Thin Ice

8. ………. Rushdie

9. Oceanic Equine

10. Ashes Contest

11. Vegetable Eating Male Bird

12. Father with Extended Limbs

13. Throw High Then Mix

14. The Youngest Scout Group

15. Abacus

16. Headscarf Keeps This in Place

17. Bird’s Resting Place

18. Type of Dessert

19. Mike Tyson’s Occupation

20. Bringer Back

Grow Your Own: Here is an up-date from a

couple of our learners on their projects. Jan from Calderdale was so excited to share her latest pic

with us (see above). She has been planting up her latest seeds that arrived recently. She checked out her craft stuff for a suitable container for the chives and parsley which will be growing on her kitchen

windowsill and her lettuce; radish & beetroot seeds

are coming along nicely.

Michael’s ‘Coronavirus Veg Garden’ is also thriving. His potatoes, carrots, peas, turnips and

cabbage are all doing well and he had his first harvest the other day! (see photo across)

Top Tip from ’ar Helen: dried, crushed up egg shells around the base of your plants are a great way to stop pesky slugs eating their way through

your goodies!

Answers to last week’s Nature Quiz

1. Elder 2. Elm 3. Rowan 4. Ash 5. Pear 6. Beech 7. Holly

8. Maple 9. Yew 10. Sycamore 11. Cherry 12. Pine

13. Chestnut 14. Aspen 15. Fir 16. Hazel (will accept Olive

either) 17. Monkey Puzzle 18. Plum 19. Oak 20. Poplar