Congratulations to our wonderful Peer Trainers, Lorraine and Lynette for winning the West Berkshire Adult Learning Achievement Award. We are super proud of your achievements and all you do to support and help our students to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Enjoying the fruits of our labour
Our lovely allotment has done us proud over the past 6 months with fruit, veg and flowers galore. It’s been a picture! Such a lovely peaceful, outdoor space. We had fun with some students this week using the vegetables around us to make a soup….it couldn’t have been any fresher!
Early Autumn at the allotment
We started the new term down at the allotment. We cooked some of our home grown produce and very much hope that some of you will be coming down over the next few months before Winter returns. We are planning some sessions where we will cook some snacks using the fruit and vegetables that we have grown and nurtured over the last 8 months
Gorgeous, fresh, homegrown ingredients Angela in action Frittata! Back in late April……. ….the same spot 4 months later!
Easter Celebration
After such a long time without seeing one another in person both students and staff met for an Easter celebration at Shaw House. Socially distanced outside we enjoyed our time together taking part in an outdoor quiz at Shaw House. The trees were just turning and there was a glimmer of sunshine even though it was still so cold. Fresh air, having time to catch up and a few chocolate eggs made for a memorable social event. We like to meet socially every term. Being a student at Recovery in Mind courses is more than the learning; making new friends, connecting with other students and taking part in group activities are an important and valuable part of moving forward with mental health challenges.
Allotment
For the past few years the Recovery in Mind team have been thinking about how an allotment might be a positive addition to our course offerings. Somewhere to develop new interests, learn skills and literally ‘grow’ together.
At last we have our own ‘Shed’ and growing space on the Sport in Mind allotment about a mile outside central Newbury. It couldn’t have come at a better time as we are moving on from the Covid 19 pandemic onto what is universally described as the ‘Recovery Phase’ (little do they know the rest of us have been in the Recovery Phase for quite a while now!) . There are two large polytunnels which have doors that open either end and allow for plenty fresh air and space to continue to be socially distanced. We also have a large outdoor bed where we will grow flowers and vegetables this summer. We have indoor table and chairs as well as the opportunity to sit or work together outside. We have all kinds of ideas from hanging basket workshops, creativity sessions, Reading sessions, courses, social mornings and all the other jobs and chores that are such a pleasure to do with others from the ‘Recovery in Mind tribe’. It’s a beautiful and peaceful spot (except for the odd train which passes at the back). There seems to be lots of birds, insects and other wildlife to look out for. Sport in Mind have been so kind and generous to allow us to use the allotment and have two mornings for the sole use of Recovery in Mind sessions. There will be something for everyone.
I really hope that you all get to share a little (or more) of the allotment with us this coming year. What’s not to love about growing, fresh air and nature in the company of other friendly students and our Peer Trainers?!