Welcome to our timetable of courses, workshops and outdoor activities.
We hope you find something of interest and look forward to seeing you. All courses and activities are designed to contribute to your wellbeing and recovery.
Enrolment
Drop-In Enrolment Morning (Monthly)
Thursday 6 November and 4 December, 10am – 12.30 noon
If you would like to register as a student at ARCH, or simply come in for a chat and find out what we can offer over a cuppa, you are very welcome to pop into one of our monthly enrolment sessions.
Booking is not required. Just turn up!
Physical Health and Wellbeing
Photography Walk (Weekly)
Fridays, 10.30am – 12 noon
Facilitator: Nigel and Pete
This is a slow-paced walk based specifically around looking out for photographic opportunities. We share advice on photographic techniques, how to improve composition skills and other advice as to what makes a good photo.
In Durham, we have previously visited Wharton Park, the Cathedral and the Town Hall. We often visit a café afterwards as well!
Gentle Paced Walking Group (Weekly)
Mondays, 10am – 11am (Not on Monday 22 or 29 December)
Walk Leaders: Christine and Luke
A gentler paced walk, taking place on flat ground and supported by friendly and supportive walk leaders. The walks are at a much slower pace with the option to rest, if needed. These walks are great for helping to build your confidence and increase activity levels gradually.
Walks will alternate between Chester-Le-Street Riverside Park (meeting in the car park) and Durham. We will confirm the walk venue and meeting arrangements when you contact us to book.
Places must be booked on a weekly basis.
Walking the Seasons (Monthly)
Friday 14 November and 12 December, 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Venue: Botanic Gardens, Hollingside Lane, South Road, Durham, DH1 3TN
Facilitator: Peter and Janice
A monthly walking meditation, taking place on the second Friday of every month, lets you observe and experience the changing of the seasons. You’ll be encouraged to use your senses to connect with nature. As seasons change, we’ll suggest what to look out for, so you can experience things in a new and different way.
Meet in the car park near the entrance to Botanic Gardens.
Join a walking group in County Durham
Did you know that Durham County Council run a programme of free, weekly walks throughout County Durham? The walks are a fantastic opportunity for those wanting to take first steps to being active via Gentle Steps to Walking / Get Ready Walks, or for maintaining a healthy lifestyle (Wellbeing Walks) in the company of others. For more information and to book onto the walks, Link: Move walking (thriveleisure.co.uk) or Follow on Facebook
Walking for Wellbeing (Weekly)
Thursdays, 10.30am – 12 noon
Walk Leaders: Alison, Janice, Peter, Barry, Luke, Christine
Join our weekly walking group, leaving from outside of St Margaret’s Health Centre at 10.30am on Thursday morning, for a 90-minute walk around beautiful Durham City and the surrounding countryside. All you need is comfortable, supportive footwear and clothing suitable for the weather (water and sunscreen in warm weather).
Please note that whilst our walks are inclusive and available to all, a basic level of fitness and mobility is needed to be able to tackle some of the steep hills and banks that Durham City is renowned for. If you would like to chat to a Walk Leader about the walks before booking, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Wellbeing Skills and Tools
Creative Writing (Monthly)
Tuesday 11 November and Wednesday 10 December, 10am – 12 noon
Facilitator: Kay and Kyle
Writing can be a great way to be mindful, explore your emotions and enjoy being creative. Aimed at all abilities, these monthly sessions will focus on writing prompts and short exercises designed to inspire and kickstart your inner writer!
Cancer and Recovery (1 Sessions)
Wednesday 5 November, 10am – 12.30 noon
Facilitator: Peter
Cancer is a devastating condition that can be highly distressing both to the person diagnosed with it as well as their friends, family and loved ones.
While ‘recovery’ from cancer is normally thought of as the process one undergoes to remove the cancer from their body, for example, through chemotherapy or surgery, this workshop seeks to facilitate discussion around how recovery from a mental health perspective can be fostered, with specific emphasis on the 5 CHIME factors.
Let’s Talk Late ADHD Diagnosis (2 Sessions)
Weekly from Monday 10 November, 1.30pm – 4pm
Facilitator: Kyle
A session to discuss all things ADHD! Aimed at adults who are either on the waiting list, recently diagnosed or interested in seeking a diagnosis. A mixed format of discussion detailing on what ADHD is and ‘living well’ with ADHD.
Mind, Body and Spirit (Weekly)
Sessions will be held on a Friday morning from November onwards.
Fridays, 10.30am – 12 noon
Facilitator: Janice and Luke
Weekly sessions are practical and informative, covering practices such as Tai-Chi, Breath Work, relaxation techniques, acupressure and mindfulness. No prior knowledge or experience is required. The practices aim to promote relaxation, whilst nourishing the mind, body and spirit. They can positively affect our emotional and physical wellbeing and increase our energy levels.
Weather permitting, we may hold some sessions outdoors.
Positive Psychology (2 Sessions)
Starts weekly from Tuesday 11 November, 1.30am – 4pm
Facilitator: Kyle
This short course explores a range of practical tools used in positive psychology to enhance subjective wellbeing. We will briefly present the theory and evidence of several practices and students will be supported to try out these techniques for themselves and reflect on them. There will also be an opportunity for the group to share ideas of other wellbeing strategies.
Managing Intrusive Thoughts (1 Session)
Thursday 13 November, 1.30pm – 4pm
Facilitator: Peter
Intrusive thoughts are unexpected and unwanted thoughts or images that become stuck in our mind. They generally revolve around doing or saying something violent or appropriate, even though this might be in complete opposition to the values we hold.
Most people experience intrusive thoughts from time to time and are usually easily dismissed, yet for some people they can be like a stuck record and can cause significant distress. This workshop looks at where intrusive thoughts come from, why they can be troublesome for some of us and how we can learn to manage them.
Introduction to Recovery (1 Session)
Wednesday 10 December, 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Facilitator: Kyle
A session designed for people new to ARCH recovery college. Meet some new people in a relaxed and welcoming environment. This interactive session is a gentle introduction to the CHIME recovery principles, Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning, Empowerment. Discuss what recovery means to you and start to plan your next steps!
Featured! Music and Nature (1 Session)
Wednesday 12 November, 10am – 12 noon
Facilitator: Janice and James
Sound can play an important role in wellbeing; in these two sessions we will explore both musical sound and the sounds of our natural environment and make creative connections between the two.
In each session we will practise attentive (or ‘deep’) listening in Durham’s rich natural spaces and develop musical responses (inside and outside) to our experience of this environmental sound. No prior musical experience necessary, but dress for the weather.
James is a composer, from Durham University working on a community project called Composing Ecology. You will participate in sound-making activities in groups.
You do not need any previous musical knowledge or experience. The course will be focused on fostering a deeper attachment to nature and processes of ecology, through music.
Let’s Talk Late Autism Diagnosis (2 Sessions)
Starts weekly from Monday 24 November, 1.30pm – 4pm.
Facilitator: Kyle
Designed for adults who are either on the waiting list or have recently been diagnosed as autistic. Join us to discuss the lived experience of being diagnosed late in life. Session one will look at challenges we may face whilst session two is focused on autistic strengths.
Rich Picturing for Recovery (1 Sessions)
Wednesday 19 November, 10am – 12.30 noon
Facilitator: Peter
Rich Picturing is a technique used in systems thinking for exploring complex issues by drawing detailed representations of them – symbols, doodles and sketches – with the goal being to uncover new insights about our own recovery journey.
This session will involve us creating rich pictures based on the CHIME factors before discussing what we have drawn with the group. There will also be an opportunity to create a collective rich picture exploring barriers and opportunities to recovery. No artistic skills or prior knowledge of systems techniques are necessary here.
Trauma and the Brain (2 Sessions)
Starts weekly from Thursday 20 November, 10am – 12.30 noon
Facilitator: Kay and Mark
The aim of the course is to outline some of the ways that trauma can impact your brain. We will cover early brain development, what we know about how the brain responds to stress and trauma, how that might influence your day-to-day life and ways to help manage any difficulties relating to memory and thinking skills.
Managing Everyday Costs (1 Session)
Wednesday 26 November, 10am – 12.30 noon
Facilitator: Peter
Since 2021 the UK has experienced an ongoing ‘cost of living crisis’ whereby the prices for many essential goods and services such as food, fuel and electricity, has risen considerably faster than household incomes, resulting in difficult times for many.
This is still very much an issue in 2025, with UK inflation forecast to be the highest out of all the G7 countries. This course looks at the different ways in which you can reduce your spending on essentials and encourages students to share their own tips on how we can all save money.
Understanding Health Anxiety (1 Session)
Tuesday 2 December, 1.30pm – 4pm
Facilitator: Peter
While it is normal for all of us to be concerned about our health from time to time, people who experience health anxiety frequently find that anxiety around being ill, or getting ill in future, can significantly affect their life. This anxiety can have significant effects upon people’s relationships with others, employment/education and hobbies and interests. This workshop looks at what health anxiety is, how it can manifest itself and the ways it can be managed.
Embracing Solitude (1 Session)
Wednesday 3 December, 10am – 12 noon
Facilitator: Janice
Society teaches us that being alone is something we should avoid. The person who spends time alone, eats alone, or goes on holiday alone, is often pitied and perceived as lonely. In this course we will explore the difference between solitude or loneliness. We will discover the benefits of solitude, how we can make space in our lives for alone time and how we can enjoy spending time alone.
Roll for Recovery: Winter Special (2 Sessions)
Weekly from Friday 5 December, 1.30pm – 4pm
Facilitator: Kyle and Cara
Did you know that Tabletop Role Playing Games (TTRPG’s) can be a great way to make connections with new people and explore social situations in a safe environment? Join us to roll many dice and tell a story of daring adventure, all whilst exploring the theme of recovery!
These two sessions are set in a quirky hotel in a fantastic land. You will play as a team of unusual characters in a fantasy setting. Expect to roll dice, tell silly stories and solve mysteries. Aimed at complete beginners with simplified rules and based on popular TTRPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, Roll for Shoes and Dungeon World.
Cultivating Happiness (1 Session)
Tuesday 9 December, 1.30pm – 4pm
Facilitator: Kyle
Happiness is a positive emotional state characterised by feelings of fulfilment, joy, contentment and satisfaction with life. While one route to happiness can be obtained through maximising pleasure and minimising pain, another approach argues that doing activities that bring us meaning and purpose can improve our sense of wellbeing. This workshop will encourage discussion around happiness as a concept, looking at how each of us can cultivate happiness in our own way and discussing how any barriers to happiness can be overcome.
Exploring Self-Esteem (1 Session)
Tuesday 16 December, 1.30pm – 4pm
Facilitator: Peter
Self-esteem is the opinion and value we have towards ourselves. If our self-esteem is good we feel positive about our capabilities, can recognise our strengths and are more likely to exercise self-compassion. However, when self-esteem is low, we view ourselves through a critical lens and, as a result, feel less able to manage life’s challenges. This course looks at what self-esteem is, why we develop low self-esteem and practical ways in which this can be improved.
Coping with Christmas (1 Session)
Wednesday 17 December, 10am – 12.30 noon
Facilitator: Peter
While many of us enjoy the Christmas holidays, others find this can be a challenging time of year. Many of us find buying presents to be a strain on our finances, while we often have to talk with and socialise with challenging family members around this time.
For others, isolation and a loss of routine can be difficult. This session covers the common challenges associated with Christmas, how we can make Christmas more bearable and looks at how we can develop our own Christmas ‘survival kit’.
Featured! Christmas Activity Day
Thursday 18 December, 10.30am – 3.30pm
You are invited to our free Christmas Activity Day at ARCH Recovery College! We will begin with a walk to Durham Cathedral to see their sparkly Christmas tree; Christmas jumpers welcome. There will be nibbles provided but please bring your lunch if staying for the whole day. From 1pm there will be Christmas crafts, quizzes and carols.
