Connecting People, Supporting Recovery, Building Wellbeing Together
BRAW is a collaborative network helping people to find, access and connect with mental health recovery and wellbeing learning opportunities across the Scottish Borders
There are lots of educational courses that support mental health and wellbeing - many of these are delivered by different organisations so we are building a collection here to help you navigate through what is available.
Disclaimer - please note that the courses listed here are for general educational and information purposes only. They are not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice or care. The quality of the course or activity content may vary. Other than those courses directly provided by NHS Borders, the content has not been verified by NHS Borders and inclusion in this list does not constitute endorsement.
Local courses - Creating Hope Award organisations
These courses are all offered by local organisations who are part of our Creating Hope Awards scheme for mentally healthy and suicide safer communities.
Foundations of Recovery and Wellbeing (5 week programme) - provided by NHS Borders, priority is given to people who use our mental health services. Limited self-referral places are sometimes available. Email health.improvement@borders.scot.nhs for information.
Health in Mind courses - Ways to Wellbeing (10 week programme) and other courses such as Managing Anxiety (4 weeks), Managing Stress (4 weeks), Wellbeing Toolkit (6 weeks), Emotional Regulation (6 weeks) and Keep Yourself Well (7 weeks). Aimed at people experiencing low/moderate mental health challenges - groups not suitable for people with high/complex needs. Provided free of charge for people aged 18+, self-referrals can be made. Find out more and make an equiry HERE
Peer 2 Peer Mindfulness - delivers accessible, free mindfulness courses and events that empower individuals to navigate stressful life circumstances - such as chronic illness, financial strain, relationship challenges, and job burnout - by teaching them to respond to difficulties with calmness and non-judgment. Find out more about the mindfulness courses on offer HERE
Greener Peebles Community Garden - offers a variety of outdoor informal activities in the garden. Activities to support food growing, practical skill development, peer support and enhancing biodiversity. Volunteering and Skills Share sessions in this welcoming garden environment. Open to all, no referral needed. Find out more HERE
Equine Facilitated Learning and Development - these activities involve work on the ground with horses at the RDA arena, Monteviot, near Woodside Garden Centre. There is a charge for these sessions provided by the Borders Group of Riding for the Disabled. Find out more HERE
Borders Care Voice - Borders Care Learning Network - offers free training courses to unpaid carers as well as to people who work or volunteer in health and social care. Courses include Scotland's Mental Health First Aid, SafeTalk, Wave after wave - Suicide bereavement, Mental Health improvement and suicide prevention, navigating anxiety. Find out more HERE
Borders Care Voice - Flourish Mental Health Matters - is the lived experience forum for mental health in the Borders and is providing Peer Support Training. Find out more HERE
Borders in Recovery - a peer support community helping people to build connection, confidence and hope. Many courses and activities available at locations all over the Borders including a structured self-coaching skills programme, a creative arts programme, specific spaces for both men and women, physical activity, music and social opportunities. Aimed at adults in recovery from substance use and family members. Find out more HERE
Other local courses and learning opportunities
Art and Craft - Artbeat Studios in Hawick aims to improve health and wellbeing through art and creative activities for adults, providing a safe and stimulating space for recovery. Self-referrals are accepted as well as referrals and there is a charge for the sessions. Find out more and contact Artbeat through their Facebook page HERE
Food growing in community gardens - Abundant Borders Learn how to grow food and cook healthy affordable meals from what has been grown. All learning takes place in community gardens in Eyemouth, Ayton, Duns, Foulden, Kelso, Hawick. Anyone can sign up, open to people taking their first steps towards learning about recovery and wellbeing. Volunteering opportunities available. Find out more HERE
Community gardening in Hawick - the Walled Garden at Wilton Lodge Park has a long running community gardening project run by Scottish Borders Council where volunteers help to grow vegetables and look after perennial beds and fruit trees and bushes. Aimed at adults, anyone attending who needs support must have a support worker with them. Find out more HERE
Nature based groupwork activities - Nature Unlimited supports wellbeing through nature and human connection, in woodlands in the Scottish Borders. For 16+, generally projects run in blocks of 10 to 12 weeks. Access may be limited depending on transport and mobility. Referrals needed for some projects - please enquire directly HERE
Branching Out - Borders Forest Trust takes referrals from health professionals for this 13 week course which runs in two woodlands in the Borders. This is the Forestry Commission's programme for mental health service users that runs in partnership with NHS Borders. Find out more about Borders Forest Trust HERE
Community Learning and Development - this Scottish Borders Council run service offers a variety of different learning opportunities in communities across the Borders. This includes the Mental Health and Wellbeing Award which is a course that is accredited by Qualifications Scotland (the national accreditation body). Find out more HERE
Works+ runs courses to help unemployed people to find their futures - employability support for Scottish Borders residents who are unemployed or underemployed. Works+ employability services are delivered alongside an in-house mental health and wellbeing practitioner. Find out more HERE
Renew is a primary care mental health service that offers a range of Cognitive Behavioural based interventions for mild-moderate mental health difficulties. These aim to support the individual to learn about their own experiences of mental health and to develop skills to be able to self-manage; building resilience and enhancing long-term mental wellbeing. Access to Renew is by referral only, via a GP
DBI (Distress Brief Intervention) is a compassionate, short-term (typically two weeks), mental health intervention for people experiencing emotional distress who do not require an immediate emergency response. The service is ran by SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) and aims to support people through their distress, whilst also giving them tools and skills to be able to more effective manage any future distress through the development of a Distress management plan (D-MAP). Access to DBI is by referral, mostly via a GP
Online learning about mental health
NHS Inform has a wide range of information available - you can learn more about mental health conditions and access mental health self-help guides that use cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Click HERE
Our Ways to Be Well pages provide lots of information that can be used to support mental health recovery and wellbeing.
NHS Borders Wellbeing Service has self-help information about specific problems and helpful strategies to help you improve how you are feeling. Download the leaflets HERE