Since its launch in 2019, the formerly named Recovery College has been coproduced alongside service users, staff and community members, and we are delighted to announce the latest development. From today the service will be renamed as Community Roots.
Earlier this year service users and local communities were asked to submit name suggestions, with over 80 creative entries a short list of 5 finalists were compiled before the final vote was opened. Following a two week voting period the winner was declared as Community Roots.
On announcing the result, Suzie Smith, Service Development Manager, commented:
“We are really excited to be able to celebrate our new name, we received so many great suggestions and the final voting was a closely fought contest but we are delighted with the outcome. Our services, opportunities and ethos are not changing, our iconic tree logo and branding colours have remained the same, but we now feel Community Roots summarises our offering much better and places us right in the heart of communities which is where we want to be.”
Julie Anne Murray, Interim Chief Nurse and Quality Officer added:
“At the centre of Community Roots is coproduction and it is wonderful to see the next phase now in action. The focus is and always has been helping people enhance their health and wellbeing. We are excited to watch Community Roots continue to grow and develop.”
The team work across Lancashire and South Cumbria connecting experts by profession with experts by experience to bring a wide range of health, wellbeing and social support through learning opportunities. The focus is a little different to traditional models of health care, focussing on preventing ill health, life beyond services and connecting people to a wide variety of opportunities and support in their local community.
Suzie, continued:
“Our work starts and finishes within our communities with an aim to reduce stigma and improve awareness of living well, despite health issues. If you attend our courses you can expect to build deeper connections in your community whilst learning new skills that promote feelings of control and hope. All our opportunities are co-produced and co-delivered by lived experience experts, so you can be assured we understand because we’ve been there too. We are passionate that our courses provide an authentic and relatable space to explore personal wellbeing alongside people who truly understand.”
Courses on offer at Community Roots throughout September and beyond include, living with ADHD, confidence and assertiveness, understanding depression, understanding anxiety and introduction to deaf awareness. There are over 30 courses available to anyone aged 16 and over, delivered in person from either of their two sites in Preston and Burnley with a selection of the courses able to be accessed online.
Heather Hilton, a peer volunteer at Community Roots comments:
“Being a volunteer with ADHD and leading on the living with ADHD course can be tiring but helping people understand themselves or a loved one means everything to me. Being in a room with others with similar experiences is the most amazing experience. It’s a time when nobody feels judged and there is only acceptance. We all learn from each other and I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”
The new name announcement is timely to align with the launch of a new website and online booking system which will make booking places on any of the free courses easier and more accessible.
A learner who has been attending Community Roots since the start of this year adds:
“Community Roots is a welcoming and safe place to learn, share and talk about our experiences without judgement. I feel listened to and valued during the sessions. I’ve personally gained support through trained peer staff and practitioners as well as those in the local community.”
View the full range of courses, book your place and learn more about Community Roots.
