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 1 May and 5 June, 10am – 12:30noon
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 – 12noon
Facilitators: Nigel and Pete
This is a slow-paced walk based specifically around looking out for photographic opportunities, where 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!
Please note there will be no photography walk on Friday 2 May.
Gentle Paced Walking Group (Weekly) (60 minutes)
Mondays, 10am – 11am (Not on bank holidays)
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 9 May and 13 June, 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Venue: Botanic Gardens, Hollingside Lane, South Road, Durham, DH1 3TN
Facilitators: 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 – 12noon (No walk on 26 June)
Walk Leaders and Assistants: Alison, Janice, Pete, 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
New! Feel Good Thursdays: Links with Nature & Durham Wildlife Trust (6 sessions)
Starts weekly from Thursday 5 June, 10am – 12noon (minibus will leave from ARCH approximately 9:30am)
Venue: Local Nature Reserve (transport available from ARCH Recovery College)
Facilitators: Durham Wildlife Trust / Links with Nature
Places limited to 8 people.
Feel good and boost your wellbeing by spending time outdoors in nature with our free 6-session wellbeing programme at a local nature reserve. Join us for beginner-friendly, nature-based activities. The weekly sessions will include:
- Mindfulness and Reflection
- Wildlife Wander and Nature mapping
- Wild Yoga for all (no previous experience required)
- Conservation Task Taster session
- Willow-weaving
All sessions will take place outdoors so please wear suitable outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear for all sessions.
As places are limited to 8 people, if you wish to attend, please ensure you can come to all sessions. If more than 8 people want to attend, we will put names into a hat.
Building Resilience and Wellbeing Workshop (Monthly)
Friday 9 May and 13 June, 10:30am – 12:30noon
Venue: Elvet Methodist Church, 8 Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HL (Meet at ARCH 9.45am to walk to venue)
Course Facilitators: Janice and Luke
The aim of the free session is to promote wellbeing and relaxation by using mind, body and spirit practices gathered from many cultures, to help people cope with trauma and everyday stress. In the session we will share simple Tai chi, breath work, meditation, self-acupressure, and energy work. When engaging in these practices, many have reported feeling peaceful, more positive, calmer and feeling more alive.
Coffee, Cake and Conversation (Monthly)
Friday 30 May and 27 June, 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Facilitators: Peter
Coffee, Cake and Conversation is an informal, monthly event whereby we come together to discuss a specific issue concerned with wellbeing and positive mental health while enjoying some light refreshments.
Theme for May: Empowerment. In this session we will explore what it means to feel empowered in our daily lives—how we can build confidence, speak up for ourselves, and take steps toward the changes we want to see. Join us for a relaxed and supportive discussion about how we can become more in control of our own journeys.
Theme for June: ‘Celebrating Strengths’. In this session we look at how we can identify our personal strengths, how we can apply these to our own lives, and any barriers to this. There will be a short optional activity at the start of the session which we can use to think about our positive attributes.
Mind, Body and Spirit (Weekly)
Wednesdays, 1pm – 2:30pm
Facilitators: 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.
New! Trauma and the Brain (3 Sessions)
Thursday 1, 8 and 22 May, 10am-12:30noon (No class on 15 May)
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.
Exploring Sleep (3 Sessions)
Starts weekly from Thursday 1 May, 1:30pm-3:30pm
Facilitator: Peter
Getting a good night’s sleep is hugely beneficial to our mental and physical health and gives your body and brain the chance to rest and heal. However, many of us experience poor sleep or sleep-related disorders, which include bruxism, sleep apnoea, and restless legs.
Over a third of UK adults struggle with insomnia on a weekly basis, and an estimated 2 out of every 5 adults’ snore. This three-week course looks at why sleep is necessary for our wellbeing, the causes of common sleep problems, and practical ways as to how you can improve your own sleep.
Men’s Mental Health Discussion Group (Monthly)
Wednesday 7 May, 10:30am-12:30noon and Wednesday 11 June, 3pm – 4:30pm
Facilitator: Peter
This is a monthly discussion group at ARCH where men meet in a safe and supportive environment, to catch up, share experiences around mental health challenges, and gain new insights as to how to move forwards.
Theme for May: Emotions. Do you find it easy to show emotions? What are the barriers around expressing emotions to others? This session provides the space to discuss the role of emotions in our daily lives and considers the challenges men may specifically experience.
Theme for June: Loneliness is not only associated with a lack of social contact but can also occur if we feel that nobody around us can understand our issues. This session creates a space to talk openly about connection, isolation, and how we can build stronger relationships with others, from a male perspective.
New! Energy Management (1 Session)
Tuesday 6 May, 1:30pm – 4pm
Facilitators: Kyle
Pain, mental health difficulties and neurodiverse differences (masking, sensory overload) can all have an enormous drain on your energy. This can have an enormous impact on your day at work, caring for your family and socialising.
This one-off interactive session will explore managing energy, recognising what activities drain or help us recover energy and we’ll explore some tools to help cope.
New! Let’s Talk: Late ADHD Diagnosis (2 Sessions)
Starts weekly from Tuesday 13 May, 2pm – 3:30pm.
Facilitator: Kyle and Ryan
An interactive chat that will explore the topic of ADHD with lived experience trainers. In session one we will explore what ADHD is and some basic wellbeing coping mechanisms. In session two we will look at the diagnostic process including pros and cons.
These sessions have a smaller group size for comfort and a relaxed atmosphere.
New! What Does Your Medication Mean to You? (1 Session)
Wednesday 14 May, 10am-12:30noon
Facilitator: Simran and Peter
The aim of this workshop is to build a positive connection between you and your medication and empower you in decision making around your care.
This workshop will encourage reflection on experiences with medication and how this can be related to the CHIME model of recovery as well as tackling obstacles to taking medication and how to get the most out of consultations with healthcare professionals.
The first 30 minutes of the workshop will be dedicated to Q&As with a mental health pharmacist to address any concerns you may have, followed by an informal, open and honest conversation about how medication can affect our lives.
Introduction to Recovery for 18-25’s (1 Session)
Monday 19 May, 1:30pm – 4pm
Facilitator: Kyle
A bespoke one-off session for 18-25 year-olds that looks at the CHIME model of recovery; Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning and Empowerment. This workshop is a relaxed interactive discussion which will help you apply these values to your own recovery journey.
Introduction to Photography (6 Sessions)
Starts weekly from Wednesday 21 May, 10am – 12:30noon
Facilitators: Peter and Nigel
This 6-session course aims to teach you how to improve your photography, looking at techniques of composition, using manual settings on your camera, and how to discover new photographic opportunities.
This course involves both a classroom element and a practical element, where the group will visit nearby places in Durham to take photos and to put what they have learned into practice. Places visited include the Miner’s Hall, Cathedral, Cosin’s Library, and Wharton Park.
There will be an opportunity for people to share their photos with the group and receive feedback. Everyone who would like to improve their photography is welcome, whether they have a phone camera or fancy DSLR!
New! Exercise & Mental Health (2 Sessions)
Starts weekly from Thursday 22 May, 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Facilitators: Kay and Luke
This course explores the links between exercise and improved mental health and well-being. This will include consideration of the role of exercise in relieving stress, anxiety and depression.
We will also look at the benefits, barriers and ways to get involved in a range of different physical activities.
New! Exploring Self Esteem (1 Session)
Friday 23 May, 1:30pm – 4pm
Facilitators: 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.
Roll for Recovery (7 Sessions)
Starts weekly from Tuesday 2 May
Facilitators: Janice and Ryan
Morning sessions for 18-25 year-olds: 10am – 12:30noon
Afternoon sessions for all ages: 1:30pm – 4pm
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 sessions are aimed at complete beginners to experienced players; with simplified rules loosely based on popular TTRPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder or Dungeon World. No experience or equipment necessary but feel free to bring your lucky dice if you like!
Recovery the New Me (6 Sessions)
Starts weekly from Monday 2 June, 1:30pm – 4pm
Facilitator: Kyle
This is our flagship course which takes a closer look at the CHIME model of recovery: Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning and Empowerment. Students will be supported to apply these to their own recovery journeys and share them with their support team as part of their care planning.
Coming off Medication (1 Session)
Thursday 5 June, 1:30pm – 4pm
Facilitator: Peter
While prescribed medications for mental health can work well for some people, for others, they may experience a range of side effects which can be worse than the condition that they are being treated for.
At the same time, however, many people who try to come off these medications find that they experience a range of discontinuation effects, some of which can be distressing and can persist for weeks after stopping.
As a result, people often have to go back on the medication in question. This course suggests tried and tested ways in which you can, should you wish, reduce or discontinue any medications while minimising any distressing symptoms.
Exploring Phobias (1 Session)
Thursday 19 June, 1:30pm – 4pm
Facilitator: Peter
A phobia is an overwhelming fear of places, objects, animals, or situations. Phobias can have a considerable impact on someone’s life, resulting in them organising their life around the thing that is causing them anxiety.
This session looks at both specific and complex phobias, looking at the causes, how they are sustained, and, importantly, how they can be treated.
