Hope College: compassion. The heart of our approach.
Compassion and Co-Production are the foundations of our philosophy and, combined with trust and honesty, we can thrive in our community together.
What is hope college and who is it for?
Hope College offers a variety of opportunities for clients, carers, and families of the Slough Community Mental Health Team to be involved with. If you get support from the CMHT, or you care for someone who does, then you are welcome to join Hope College at any time. As a student with us, it is your choice where you decide to start your journey depending on your needs.
Co-production is at the heart of everything we do at Hope College. This means clients, volunteer peer mentors, carers, and professionals work together to think about, develop, and present any new courses together on an equal basis.
All the courses at Hope College are co-designed, co-produced, and co-delivered and as a result promote our core values: providing hope, control, and opportunity for every student as they embark on their journey to better mental health. Our courses usually take place at New Horizons (Slough CMHT) with some online or at other locations in Slough. Please see below for more details or click here to see the available courses if you are logged in.
We are pleased to announce that Hope College is also open to people who use the Mental Health Integrated Community Service (MHICS) or BRAVE in addition to CMHT service users and Carers.
Hope College courses, workshops, and activities are provided under the following areas:
- Health and Wellbeing
- Creativity and Discovery
- Developing Skills and Knowledge
- Peer Support
- Carers Support
- Employment Support
- Transitions Pathway
What we do at hope college
Pathways: Workshops and Courses
We have several pathways that offer a variety of opportunities. It is your choice where you decide to start and the pathway you choose, depending on your needs. If you feel you need some guidance, please speak to a member of the Recovery Team.
Peer Support
The Volunteer Peer Mentor programme offers a unique opportunity for you to use your own experiences of mental health difficulties to support others. If you feel able to manage your mental health, and are ready for a challenge, you could apply to become a Volunteer Peer Mentor or Helping Hand. If you would like to talk to someone about this, please call a member of the Recovery Team.
Employment Support
To help support people who want to find paid work, we have set up an Individual Placement and Support employment service in Slough.
Work is good for your physical and mental health, and can play a vital role in the recovery of people with mental health conditions. Experience has shown that many people are able to work and pursue careers if they are properly supported.
If you would like to talk to someone about this, please call a member of the Recovery Team.
Carers
Slough’s Community Mental Health Team and its Older People’s Mental Health Team offer a number of different initiatives to support carers, including:
- Carer’s Assessments
- Carer Support groups
- Carer Education sessions
- Support and Signposting information to help manage your caring role.
- Hope College – If you are a carer of someone under the Adult Mental Health services please contact the Carer Support Worker at the Recovery Team. If you are a carer of someone under the Older Person’s Mental Health Team, please contact the OPMH team on 01753 635220.
- The Carer’s Forum – an opportunity to shape services.
Hope college your student journey
Beginning
Attend one of the Hope College Open Days
Sign-up for courses, workshops and/or activities of your choice
Start attending Hope College courses, workshops and/or activities
Review what you have learnt, and discuss what else would you like to attend?
Think about using your skills to help others; Volunteer Peer Mentoring or Helping Hands or volunteering in your local community
Discovering
Life beyond Hope College
Email us to sign up for the Open Day or get login details
Log in here and view our courses
Use the "enrol on our courses" form to sign up
HOW CAN I ENROL
with Hope College?
Hope College usually holds an Open Day before each semester starts, which we encourage all students to attend. Here you can see what courses/activities are on offer, and decide which opportunities you would like to enrol onto. You will also have the opportunity to meet with Hope College’s other students, Volunteer Peer Mentors, Helping Hands, and staff.
Hope College Open Days are traditionally held before the start of every semester. The current semester runs from October to December, while the next Open Day will be held on 23rd February 2024. Please check back closer to the time for more details.
Although most workshops are now being held face-to-face with some held online, we are still asking all service users and carers to sign up to our Enabling Town Slough login area.
The log in area now contains the most up-to-date information about our upcoming workshops and events and is the easiest way for you to enrol on new courses, so we highly encourage you to sign up. To view all available courses, click the “Courses” button when you log in; to enrol, use the “enrol on our courses” form at the bottom of the “Courses” page. You can also find our latest brochure by clicking the “Hope College Brochure” button at the top of the “Courses” page.
If you already have login details, you can log in here. To receive your login details, please email Mailbox.HopeCollege@berkshire.nhs.uk.
If you have any further questions, please contact the Recovery Team.
USE YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH TO SUPPORT OTHERS
All our Volunteer Peer Mentors attend our ten week Volunteer Ready Induction course, which covers topics such as communication, boundaries and confidentiality. As well as preparing you for your role, the course provides you with the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.
For more information and an informal chat, or to find out when the next course is, please contact the Recovery Team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hope College is open to all Carers of students who are under the Slough Community Mental Health Team, as well as people who use BRAVE or MHICS. However, we ask that anyone who accompanies a student takes an active part in the course. Any supporters who accompany students will also need to complete their own enrolment form.
We are currently revising the frequency of our Open Days, but our next Open Day will be held on 23rd February 2024 in advance of the new semester from March to July 2024.