Mindspace Recovery College is an SQA Accredited Learning Centre providing learning, activities and support to people in the community who experience mental ill health.

To prepare people with a long-term and/or enduring mental health condition for employment, volunteering or return to study we work closely with Perth College to deliver the Connect Programme. This programme runs two mornings per week for sixteen weeks and leads to an SQA award.

Course activities are built around job-seeking skills:

• accessing information
• completing application forms
• writing CVs and interview skills

Employment counselling is offered, along with visits to local employers and opportunities for work shadowing or study placement. Communication skills, assertiveness and confidence building are key themes which run throughout the course.

Mental Health Peer Support (SCQF Level 7) is another SQA accredited training course offered by Mindspace Recovery College. This is for people with personal experience of mental ill health who are ready to use these experiences to encourage others to move forward with their lives. The aim of this award is to equip the Candidates with the knowledge and skills to effectively work as a Peer Support Worker within mental health.

This PDA is awarded on the successful completion of the two Units:

• Mental Health Peer Support : Recovery Context
• Mental Health Peer Support : Developing Practice

Specific aims of the Award are to:

• Explore the development of the recovery approach in mental health.
• Define and understand peer support and its role in recovery
• Describe and explain the key concepts of formalised peer support
• Apply a range of theories and concepts in the peer support role
• Develop relationships based on peer support principles
• Understand perspectives of the work role

Peer Support - as a result of the success of the above award, Mindspace now employs several Peer Support Workers who can help people in their personal recovery journey. These individuals may be at any stage in this journey who may have ambitions to return to work.

Mindspace Recovery College offers other group training including Taking Control which is a CBT based therapy and many other beneficial learning experiences to people living with long-term and/or enduring mental health conditions, their carers, families and friends. On occasions we deliver this in conjunction with Partner organisations.

Mindspace Recovery College provides the opportunity to try something new and to identify and develop skills in a safe and creative environment. Positive experiences in the groups can help people to develop or regain their confidence and self-esteem. The groups help reduce isolation by allowing people to have a sense of belonging and providing opportunities to meet others. They also enable people to feel empowered to recognise and make choices, feel valued as individuals and more able to participate in and make a contribution to the wider community.