24 students from Essex are the first to graduate from Reach Recovery College, which provides a range of courses for people living with mental health conditions. The lessons teach valuable life skills, like confidence building and preparing for employment, in a safe and welcoming environment that enables students to better manage their mental illness, whilst also preparing them for life beyond college. The college is run by the charity Rethink Mental Illness and Trustlinks, and opened its doors for the first time last year, and has so far delivered 100 courses. Monday’s graduation was organised by staff to officially recognise their efforts that everyone has put in over the past year. Tina Gowers, Head of the college said: “I am immensely proud of our graduates. It gives me, and all of the staff here, great pleasure in seeing the hard work that they have put in over the last year pay off. They have supported each other to success, and I’m excited to see them continue to achieve in the future.” Jan, one of the graduates at yesterday’s celebration, lives with anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. “I enrolled at the college when it first formed back in 2017 and I’ve completed a number of courses since then. I’ve not only learnt coping skills that allow me to manage my anxiety enough to carry on with my life, I’ve grown confident enough to make friends and go out for coffee, something I never would have done in the past.” Councillor Derek Jarvis, Mayor of Southend, was also in attendance to hand each graduate their certificate. Courses at the college are available to anyone living with a mental illness in the Southend, Rochford, and Castle Point area. For more information go to reach.trustlinks.org Editor’s notes REACH is commissioned by a partnership of Southend CCG, Castle Point & Rochford CCG, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and Essex County Council. Trust Links has been commissioned to host and co-ordinate the REACH pilot. Delivery is supported by Rethink Mental Illness, Richmond Fellowship, SEPT and a range of community partners, who have come together to form the South East Essex Recovery College Consortium. Rethink Mental Illness is a charity that helps millions of people affected by mental illness. We campaign nationally and locally to improve people’s lives, and deliver services and support groups throughout England.