Who We Are

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Welcome to Sunderland Recovery College

Our Vision 

The primary aim of the Recovery College is to empower individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges to take an active role in their recovery journey. 

It achieves this by providing an educational environment that fosters hope, promotes self-management skills, builds resilience, and connects individuals with peer support and community resources 

Sunderland Recovery College was founded in 2016 by Sunderland Care and Support and is a community-based mental health education service located in Fulwell, Sunderland. The College offers a variety of free, peer-led courses and workshops designed to support individuals on their recovery journey, as well as their families, carers, and friends. 

During the development of the Recovery College, consultation and workshop sessions were held in local communities across Sunderland, where information was collated on what the majority wanted from their Recovery College. This information was fundamental to the structure and design of the Recovery College offer. 

The introduction of Recovery Colleges has revolutionised the way people can be supported to live the lives they want to lead. Using an educational paradigm, Recovery Colleges inspire students to develop a different relationship with their condition, a wider range of coping skills, greater confidence and knowledge, to overcome challenges, and strive towards their own goals. 

The College follows the IMROC (Implementing Recovery through Organisational Change) principles.

This change is reflected in the mental health strategy ‘No Health Without Mental Health’ (Department of Health, 2011), which defines key outcomes as enabling people to gain, “a greater ability to manage their own lives, stronger social relationships, a greater sense of purpose, the skills they need for living and working, improved chances in education, better employment rates and a suitable and stable place to live”. 

There is co-production at every level and stage of this educational model, from initial planning, development, decisions about operation, curriculum and quality assurance. 

No referral is required to attend our courses. Simply come along to one of our enrolment days—it's a quick and straightforward process. However, please note that places are limited and tend to fill up quickly, so early arrival is recommended.

Promote Recovery and Self-Management

• Empower individuals to take control of their own mental health journey. 

• Encourage the development of self-help strategies and coping tools. 

• Support recovery as a personal, unique process not just the absence of symptoms. 

Co-Production and Peer Support 

• Ensure all courses are co-designed and co-delivered by professionals and people with lived experience.

• Value the expertise of individuals with direct experience of mental health challenges.

• Foster peer-to-peer support and reduce isolation

 Enhance Knowledge and Skills

• Provide practical education on mental health conditions, wellbeing, and recovery tools.

•  Offer opportunities to learn new skills that support mental, emotional, and social wellbeing. 

• Enable students to set and achieve personal goals through structured learning. 

Increase Hope and Confidence 

• Help individuals build hope and optimism for the future. 

• Encourage greater confidence and resilience in facing life’s challenges. 

• Recognise and build on each person’s strengths and abilities.

 Reduce Stigma and Promote Inclusion

• Create a safe, non-judgmental learning environment where mental health is openly discussed.

• Tackle stigma by normalizing conversations around mental health. 

• Promote inclusion, ensuring the college is accessible to all adults regardless of background. 

Support Social Connection and Community Integration

• Build a sense of community and belonging among participants. 

• Encourage reconnection with wider society, including employment, volunteering, or further education.

• Facilitate social opportunities through group learning and creative activities 

The Team

CNTW Peer Supporters at Sunderland Recovery College 

Sunderland Recovery College proudly collaborates with Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) to integrate Peer Facilitators into its educational and wellbeing programmes. 

These Peer Facilitators bring lived experience of mental health recovery and are trained to support others on their journey toward empowerment and resilience.

Peer Supporters play a crucial role in: 

• Co-Producing Courses: Working collaboratively with staff and students to design and deliver recovery-focused learning opportunities. 

• Facilitating Groups and Workshops: Drawing on personal insights to create inclusive, relatable sessions that resonate with participants. 

• Promoting Hope and Recovery: Inspiring others by sharing experiences and demonstrating that meaningful recovery is possible. 

• Providing Individual Support: Offering empathetic guidance and informal one-toone support as part of the college’s wider wellbeing initiatives. 

• Extending Community Outreach: Participating in projects beyond the college setting to connect with broader communities and reduce stigma. 

This partnership with CNTW ensures that Peer Support remains at the heart of the college’s philosophy—empowering students not only to learn, but to grow through connection, mutual understanding, and shared experience. 

From Students to Volunteers at the Recovery College

The Recovery College offer a transformative educational environment where individuals facing mental health challenges can explore personal growth, resilience, and community integration. One of the most powerful aspects of the college is the journey many students undertake from learners to active contributors as volunteers 

Voices from the College

"Becoming a volunteer helped me reconnect with my purpose. I wasn’t just sharing my story—I was helping others shape theirs."

"It’s not just a college. It’s a community that sees your potential before you do."

As students gain confidence and develop skills, many express a desire to give back to the community that supported their recovery. 

The recovery college provide clear routes into volunteering, including mentorship, training, and shadowing opportunities. 

Volunteer assist in course delivery, help with peer support groups, facilitate workshops, or offer administrative assistance. 

Volunteers bring authenticity and empathy, serving as role models for newer students.

Many volunteers use their experience as a springboard into paid roles in mental health, community work, or further education.