Learner resources

Workbooks, policies, charters, videos and guidance for students attending the Recovery and Wellbeing College.


Five things that you might like to know about a Recovery College

Have you heard about Recovery College’s and want to know a bit more about what they do and how they came about?

Five things you might like to know about Recovery Colleges (PDF, 480 KB)


Our friends at Qdos Creates have been busy moving some of there sessions and activities online

Breathing Exercises

Breathing exercises are an effective relaxation technique that can be practiced anywhere! This video guides you through 3 deep breathing exercises so you can follow on step by step.
1.Equal Breaths
2.4:7:8 Method
3. Hand Breaths

View video here

Body Scanning

Simply lie down, close your eyes and enter into a state of relaxation as you listen to this video guiding you through a gradual sequence of relaxing the muscles in your entire body from head to toe.
The body scan is a useful relaxation technique is a mindful and meditative practice that brings awareness to the body as a whole and helpful for relaxing both the body and mind.

View video here

5 Mindfulness Exercises

Mindfulness is a practice that involves bringing your awareness to the present moment. There are lots of different ways to be mindful but these 5 exercises help to train your mind to guide your thoughts to focus on the present and they can be practiced wherever you are.

1. 60 Seconds Exercise
2. 5 Senses Exercise
3. The Colour Exercise
4. Name 3 Things
5. Do something you enjoy!

View video here


Our friends at Qdos Creates have been busy moving some of there artistic and creative sessions and activities online

How to make stress balls and stress cushions

Just big enough to fit in the palm of your hand, stress balls and stress cushions are the perfect stress relief tool to keep in the house or to transport around easily with you in your bag or handbag! Plus they are fun to make and you can make your own stress cushion to suit your personal taste by choosing your own fabric, colour and creating your own design. We hope this video inspires you to have a go at making you own stress ball or cushion and then you can keep it handy to grab quickly whenever you are feeling stressed.

View video here

Art for Mindfulness- Patterns and Colours

Have a go at filling in geometric shapes with patterns or colours in this inspiring mindfulness exercise.

View Video here 

Sensory art – Monet inspired finger-painting

This sensory art activity is easy to do and loads of fun! Finger painting is a great way to calm the mind and if even if you don’t want to get your hands dirty, don’t worry, the video also mentions other options for how you can do this exercise and recreate your own Monet inspired masterpiece at home.

View video here


Our friends at Qdos Creates have been busy moving some of there physical exercise sessions and activities online.

Beginner level yoga inspired chair based exercise

Follow on at home and copy Nicole as she demonstrates a simple chair exercise routine. This video takes you through a beginner level yoga inspired sequence. It is recommended you repeat the sequence 3 times to get the most out of it so once you get to the end of the video why not go back to the start and repeat it and see how you have improve each time.

View video here

Intermediate level inspired chair exercises

If you’re looking for a good work out to do at home, follow along and copy Nicole as she demonstrate this intermediate level yoga inspired sequence. It is recommended you repeat the sequence 3 times to get the most out of it so once you get to the end of the video why not go back to the start and repeat it and see how you have improve each time.

View video here

Stretching at home

Did you know feelings of worry, and anxiety can impact the body by contributing to muscle tightness? Typically, muscles become tense when the body is under stress and this can cause feelings of stiffness throughout the body. Did you know working out can also cause muscle tension?
Muscle tension refers to the condition in which muscles of the body remain semi-contracted for an extended period. This process causes a decrease in oxygen and a build up of biochemical waste products in the muscles, resulting in muscle tension. That’s why it’s so important to stretch your muscles regularly.
Why not give some of these stretches a try while you are at home or after you’ve had a workout or done some exercise each day. They are simple to do, only take 5minutes and can help release tension in your muscles. You can even do these stretches sitting on the sofa while you watch the TV! How great is that!

View video here


Our terrific colleagues at our sister wellbeing and recovery college in Calderdale and Kirklees have created a new physical health newsletter, called Let’s Get Physical. Take a look at their first edition…

Lets-get-physical-Edition-1 (PDF, 3 MB)


The wonderful volunteers and students over at Wakefield Recovery and Wellbeing College have put together a playlist of uplifting songs that help them to feel better when they’re not quite feeling themselves. Have a look through the playlist and pick a few songs to listen to that might help you lift your spirits. If you have the time, why not give the whole playlist a go!!

Wakefield-Recovery-Colleges-Uplifting-Playlist (DOC, 2 MB)


Most of us are carrying around anxieties about Covid-19 (coronavirus) and being in lockdown. Have a look at this workbook designed by one of Wakefield Recovery and Wellbeing College’s service users, Samantha, to help with easing these anxieties.

Lifting-lockdown-booklet (PDF, 1007 KB)


How to stay calm in a global pandemic (by Dr. Emma Hepburn)

How-to-Stay-Calm-in-a-Global-Pandemic-Free-ebook (PDF, 7 MB)


Blurt Foundation (a social enterprise dedicated to helping those affected by depression) has produced a free downloadable resource library, including information on self-care, crisis planning and supporting someone who has depression).

Visit to download


Take a look at Nirmala who is a tutor from our sister Recovery College over in Wakefield (working with them from the charity Spirit In Mind) and her snippets of mindfulness practice. Watch each of the videos and join in…

Mindfulness and breath

Mindfulness and sight

Mindfulness and sound

Mindfulness and smell/touch

Mindfulness practice

Thought for the day – peacefulness