"Nottingham Recovery College graduate"

I am a postgraduate of the Nottingham Recovery College in Duncan Macmillan House, Nottingham.  I am a recovering drug, solvent and alcohol user with mental health issues, at this time I am stable and sober and clean of drugs.

I did initially go to the Nottingham Recovery College for 6 weeks in approximately 2012 , but left. I think it wasn't my time then. I went back to my old back habits of isolating myself and not talking to people in the community, also seeking comfort in junk food and tobacco. My weight shot up to 18st 1 pound. I used a walking stick and could hardly bend down to tie my shoe laces. Sinking into a deeper hole of depression than I had ever been in before.

I decided to start again as a student at the Nottingham Recovery College on the first day of the educational year of 2015-2016.  I attended all of the subjects I chose in the 3 terms of my academic year - graduating in July 2016.  After this, I went on to Summer School also held at the Nottingham Recovery College. I took a great course called "Spirituality In Recovery - Advanced Level" with a lovely tutor called Katja.

I achieved certification in many personal development courses which helped with my own lived experience of having both mental and physical health issues. I learnt many coping strategies and techniques and also have lots of courses to put on my CV. Being able to include these on my CV, I believe, has made my CV stronger for applying for volunteering and/or paid work in the community in the future.   

The tutors at the college educated me and had a caring and understanding approach to all students within the Nottingham Recovery College. I personally could relate to other students  and I learnt a lot from their input in the classes, which I found helpful.

I would recommend this valuable educational Nottingham Recovery College to all types of people in the community. Thank you so much Nottingham Recovery College for helping me.