Drop-ins

Weekly Social Information Sharing Sessions

At Sunderland Recovery College, we offer three social information-sharing sessions each week to support connection, conversation, and community. These informal gatherings provide a space where students and volunteers can:

• Share insights, ideas, and experiences

• Stay informed about upcoming courses and events

• Explore personal development opportunities

• Strengthen peer support and build meaningful relationships

Whether you're new to the college or a familiar face, these sessions offer a welcoming environment to stay engaged and empowered.

Session Schedule:

Tuesdays

1:00–3:00 PM

Houghton-Le-Spring Methodist Church, Mautland Street, DH4 4BH

Thursdays

12:30–2:30 PM

Fulwell Resource Centre, Fulwell Road, SR6 9QW

Fridays

1:00–3:00 PM

Washington Millennium Centre, The Oval, Washington, NE37 2QD

These sessions are open to all students and volunteers and provide opportunities to:

• Share experiences and ideas

• Learn about upcoming courses and events

• Explore personal development and volunteering options

• Build supportive peer relationships

For more information or to join a session, please contact a member of the Recovery College team on 01915612276.

How Group Singing can help promote Mental well-being

Positive feelings:  Singing has been shown to be a joyful and uplifting experience. It generates a sense of positive mood, happiness and enjoyment. Such positive feelings also counteract feelings of stress or anxiety and help to distract you from internal negative thoughts and feelings.

Expectation and hope:  Enjoyable activities such as singing with others are things you will look forward to each week. They can become highlights of the week and positive memories remain alive for hours and days afterwards. Where an activity involves working towards a goal such as a performance, there are enhanced expectations of rewarding outcomes.

Self-belief:  A change of identity can occur for people with mental health issues by participating in group singing, from thinking of themselves as choir members. This can raise a sense of self-esteem and confidence and performance events can bring a sense of social recognition and status. Performances help to reduce stigma and labelling by others.

Abilities and skills:  Confidence is brought about by the ability to repeat previously learned tasks or skills (including social skills), with a high degree of accuracy. Successful skills might also help to improve success in new, related skills, when tried for the first time. Learning new songs or harmonising parts of songs, can help concentration and focus, and stimulate learning and memory. Concentration can also provide a distraction from other concerns, leading to respite from them.

Social support and networking:  Singing in a group offers the opportunity to build social capital, encourage social inclusion and raised status of the members, and creates an opportunity for communities to come together.

Organisation and structure:  Structure is something that is easily lost when your not well. People can feel adrift and disconnected. Having the purpose and goal of attending a weekly group can be motivating and create an anchor upon which other weekly activities might build.

The aim of the Recovery College Singing Group is to encourage having fun, build confidence and inspire hope in recovery. 

You do not need to have any experience of singing, nor any particular talent.
Fulwell Community Resource Centre, Fulwell Road, Sunderland, SR69QW

Starting: Every Monday
Sessions:  Ongoing
Time: 12:00pm to 1:00pm

One-to-One Personal Development Sessions at Sunderland Recovery College

We offer optional individual development sessions for both students and volunteers, designed to support and celebrate your personal growth during your time with Sunderland Recovery College.

These sessions provide the opportunity to:

• Review your Learning Journey Booklet with a member of our team

• Reflect on your achievements and progress so far

• Identify future goals and pathways, including:

  • Enrolling in further courses

  • Volunteering opportunities

  • Exploring community involvement

  • Planning steps toward employment or further training

You may be pleasantly surprised by how far you've come—and inspired by the possibilities ahead.

To book a Personal Development session, please speak with a member of the Recovery College team.

Fulwell Community Resource Centre, Fulwell Road, Sunderland, SR69QW

Starting:  Monday to Friday
Sessions: Ongoing
Time: Ring to book a time slot

Contact: 01915612276

Please note that usual enrolment procedures still apply for courses and workshops; attending a Personal Development session does not guarantee students a place on any particular course or workshop.

Unwind with Board Games — Relax, Play, Connect Join us for a friendly and low-pressure session designed to help you relax, recharge, and discover the joy of board games. Whether you're new to the game or simply looking for a fun break, our welcoming group is here to guide you and share the experience.

Why attend? Board games offer more than just entertainment—they provide a chance to:

• Unplug from daily stressors

• Improve focus and cognitive skills

• Boost mood and mental well-being

• Enjoy lighthearted social interaction

Take a step away from the distractions of everyday life—no bills, no to-do lists, just time to enjoy and connect.

Fulwell Community Resource Centre, Fulwell Road, Sunderland, SR69QW

Starting:  Thursdays
Sessions: Ongoing
Time: 1.00-3.00

Contact: 01915612276,  01915612260

The Health Champion programme aims to develop community leadership skills with FREE courses, so that passionate individuals can make a difference to health in their work, community and social networks.

We are looking for people who work or volunteer in Sunderland, who are concerned about current health issues and are interested in promoting healthy lifestyles.

The benefits of completing the five day training courses are that you can get involved in your community and gain new skills through access to training opportunities. You may improve your own health as well as friends and families.

The FREE training courses should be viewed like a jigsaw. You can do them in any order, at your own pace, and you can do just one or two courses, but to become a fully trained Health Champion you need to do ALL five training courses over a 12 month period.