Since opening in 2014, the Camden and Islington Recovery College has offered a diverse range of courses to support people with their physical and mental wellbeing, as well as offering practical tips on the challenges of modern life. The courses are taught by tutors with lived and professional experience, and include courses such as understanding anxiety, being kind to yourself, and movement for wellbeing.

Anyone who lives or works in Camden and Islington are welcome to enrol, as well as Trust staff, service users, and carers. 

On 2 October, The Recovery College team hosted an afternoon of co-production conversations, where staff, past and current students, and interested individuals from the community came along to share their views at St Luke’s Community Centre in South Islington. 

Jane Faulkner, Interim Manager of the Recovery College said:

"Our students and collaborators are at the heart of everything we do at The Recovery College. Our team are always open to feedback about how to improve and develop our service and what we offer to the community.

The co-production conversations that took place today gave us the time and space to connect to, and listen to, the students and partners of the Recovery College. It is the first of ongoing conversations and we are really excited about how this sharing will help us evolve our visibility and accessibility as we approach our 10th anniversary next year!” 

To find out more about the Recovery College and their catalogue of courses, click here

The Community Rehabilitation Specialised Workstream, is a North Central London wide project. It aims to create a sustainable and affordable model that addresses inequalities, spreads good practice and further improves outcomes for residents with severe and long-term mental illness within the community. There is a focus on successful prevention and support for people to live in the community as independently as possible. 

The Community Rehabilitation Specialised Workstream team consists of four sections:

1. Care Market Development - Carries out high-level scoping of accommodation markets in each borough and likely future demand. 

2. Out of Area Housing - Creates a common approach to providing care and treatment for people with psychosis and in a supported living or residential care home which is not in their ordinary residence.

3. Population Health Outcomes - Completing analysis of population health needs looking at the profile of current users of community rehabilitation services by demographic, borough or origin, residence, and diagnoses. 

4. Service Models and Pathways - Develop community rehab services and pathways across Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey

Please visit out website for more information.

A trauma-informed approach to healthcare aims to provide an environment where a person who has experienced trauma feels safe and can develop trust. This might look like a health care provider explaining why they are asking sensitive questions, responding with compassion when a person refuses a medical exam or test, or enabling the person to take control, for example, asking them to share what they’ve found helpful or harmful in similar situations in the past. Lots of research in this area focuses on mental health services because of established links between trauma and mental distress. 

This month, we'd like to introduce you to Jason Grant-Rowles, a Peer Coach in the North Islington Core Team, based on Holloway Road. Jason is an expert by experience and has worked as a peer coach for 18 months, providing one- to-one coaching support for people who want to work towards recovery focused goals.

When interviewed he said "Being involved in the Trauma Informed Collaborative has increased my awareness and understanding of the work happening across the North London Mental Health Partnership. I have the opportunity to work with fantastic values-based individuals who are committed to making things better for the whole organisation. I have been involved in strategy and policy developments, delivering presentations and training, organising events, and in particular speaking with peers and user-led services across the partnership."

The partnership is working to train our staff in trauma-informed care, so that we can meet our goal of becoming a truly trauma-informed organisation. 

As part of our community transformation programme we are working closely with the voluntary sector to provide more joined-up and holistic care for our service users and carers.

This month, we have an update from Mary and Philippa at Healthwatch Islington, who are independent champions for people who use health and social care services in Islington. 

As part of the true essence of collaborative working, Philippa works for both Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and Healthwatch Islington, to bridge the gap and build the partnership working to make local health services more accessible, better signposted, and able to meet the needs of the diverse population across the borough. 

Read their latest update to find out more about the partnership work they have been doing around tailored gym sessions for young people aged 18-25, health and wellbeing events for people who are experiencing homelessness, and Black History Month events. 

On 5 October we held the Camden and Islington Annual Members Meeting and Barnet, Enfield and Haringey's Annual General Meeting. 

In both meetings we heard from service users about their experience of care across the partnership. There were also some important updates on the community transformation programme. 

Please watch the recordings below to hear about our achievements in the last year and plans for the future:

• Camden and Islington Annual Members Meeting Recording
• Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Annual General Meeting Recording

To read the annual reports please click the links below:

• Camden and Islington Annual Report
• Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Annual Report

We are keen to hear from more service users and carers next year. If you would like to tell your story please contact beh-tr.communications@nhs.net for more information. 

Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of those with African and Caribbean heritage to British society. It also honours the struggles and achievements of Black people from all periods internationally and fosters an understanding of the issues that they have faced, and continue to face today.

This year’s theme is Saluting our Sisters and the aim is to put women in the spotlight because the accomplishments of black women have frequently been neglected or forgotten despite them being at the heart of social justice movements throughout history.

The theme’s significance highlights that black women are often unsung champions spearheading transformative change. They stand as pillars of social justice and advocate for equality. Their stories, while sometimes overlooked, are vitally important to our history.

So, in keeping with this, our celebrations across the North London Mental Health Partnership kicked off by welcoming Dame Elizabeth Anionwu who spoke about her journey in nursing, the NHS, and her work on sickle cell disease. You can watch the recording here.

There was also a popular session with Felica Kwaku, OBE, on how she has navigated through the NHS as a Black woman, advocating for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Nurses when it became clear these groups were being disproportionately affected by COVID-19. You can watch the recording of that session here.

There are lots of activities in and around our five boroughs, led by local council partners and community groups, to help support positive wellbeing and good mental health. Here’s a selection of some regular activities, online sessions or extra support currently available:

1. Do you have an idea for a project which can benefit your local community? Islington Giving are running a competition until 30 October through The Make It Happen fund, which is an Islington residents’ small grants scheme of up to £500 for local people to act on the things that they care about. Click here to find out more and how to apply!

2. Do you want support with debt, money, housing, or something as simple as some company for some coffee and cake with some friendly faces from your local community? Age UK Camden have a number of events taking place each month. Click here to find out more. 

3.Public Voice and Healthwatch Haringey provide health and care information, signposting and guidance on topics including GP Services, Dentists, Hospitals, Mental Health Services, Long-term Conditions, Tests/Screenings, Patient Transport, COVID-19, Care Homes, Social Care, and more. Click here to find out more and get in touch. 

4. There will be a Wellbeing Walk taking place in Enfield on 1 November. Meet new people, get some exercise, and boost your wellbeing on this guided walk, led by Tania. Click here to find out more. 

5. Age UK Barnet are hosting an event around "why it's good to look back", on Wednesday 15 November 2023 (7-8pm ) Harking back to the past can sometimes be seen as bad thing, but nostalgia is actually rather good for our brains. It can also boost physical wellbeing and can even make us feel positive about the future. Neuroscientist Professor Catherine Loveday lets us know how to do nostalgia well. Click here for more details and to register for your FREE place

6. Don't forget your Autumn flu & Covid boosters! Find out if you're eligible and book here