About Us

 

So what is a Discovery College? And who is it for?

A Discovery College is a place where you can be with people who understand, where you can learn about what you’re feeling and what you can do to make things feel a bit better. We bring together professional experts in mental health and coping tools, with people who have lived experience. This means that some of the people working at the Discovery College will have lived experience of having a mental health problem, or of caring for a young person who does.

We create a space for children and young people who might be struggling with their mental health and wellbeing, but it’s also for their friends from school or anywhere else, for their parents, carers, siblings, and wider family. Staff and volunteers who are helping young people to get better or stay well can come along too.

When you come to the Discovery College, you’ll register with us so that we can learn a bit more about you, and you can ask any questions you might have. You can then choose a workshop or a course that you’d like to join, and we’ll tell you when and where it’ll be running. Workshops might be on topics like Understanding Depression, or different activities that help to boost wellbeing like art or gardening. The workshop will be led by two people; one who has a professional background, and one who has had difficulty with their own mental health in the past. There will be other young people at the workshop who either have their own challenges with their mental health, or are friends or family members of someone else who’s having a tough time. You can take part as little or as much as you like, and if you have a good time you can book on to another course!

Our DNA

What gets us out of bed in the morning?

We’d love to see a world where children and young people have the skills, support and control to create their own mental wellness, and to navigate times of mental ill health. This drives us to make sure that every child has what they need to transform their mental health.

These are the things that are important to us:

  • How we treat people - we trust people. We share what we have with our community and we collaborate unconditionally.

  • How we make people feel - we aim to make people feel important, empowered, and excited about their future.

  • How we set direction - we are ambitious, inventive, and conscience-led and always open to change.