What is Discovery College?
Download prospectus here - currently only available in East Sussex
Discovery College is a place for children and young
people in East Sussex and their supporters (relatives,
friends and carers), to have new experiences, learn
more about emotional well-being and particular
mental health challenges. We also have courses just
for parents. Everything is done in groups with other
people who listen without judgement, offer support
without being patronising and have an interest in
who you are and would like to be. Very importantly,
the courses are FREE. Discovery College is new and
growing steadily, each term we are offering more and
more courses.
Coming along to a new group
Everyone at Discovery College knows it can be a
challenge to join a new group. Young people, who
have given it a go, tell us it really helps to identify
someone who can encourage you to come along
when you feel like giving the session a miss. We will
do everything we can to help you feel welcome and
comfortable, including sending you text reminders
before sessions. We will also support you in your
practice and development of team work skills. An
important part of teamwork is trying hard to attend
all the course sessions.
How to sign up
To register for a course all you or your supporter
(relatives, friends and carers) need do is contact
us, giving the titles of the courses you would like to
attend and your address. A registration form will then
be sent to you by post for you to fill in. If you find
completing the form difficult for any reason, please
call us to confirm you can attend the first session and
come along with your form, so we can support you to
complete it. We can do a home visit if you would find
that helpful.
0300 303 8086
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Discovery College
Aldrington House
35 New Church Road
Hove BN3 4AG
Giving consent to attend
The registration form will ask you and a parent/
carer to sign to say you are consenting to take part.
If you are 16 or older and you cannot get a parental
signature you can sign for yourself. If you are 15 and
under we will ask you to get a parent/carer signature,
but contact us if this is difficult for any reason and
we can decide together whether you can take part
without it.
What next?
Once we have received your form you will be booked
onto the course and a letter of confirmation will
be sent to you. If the course is fully booked we will
inform you that you have been added to a waiting
list; this means if there is a cancellation you could
be offered a place. Our waiting lists do not roll over
from one term to the next, so please make sure you
re-apply each term. Our term times are Sept-March
and April-July. We are always happy to hear from you
so if you have any questions or require additional
information or support with registering please
contact us.
Peer Mentors and Peer Trainers
The exciting thing about Discovery College is that
all our courses are designed and delivered with
young people who have experienced mental health
challenges.
Peer Mentors are volunteers who have reached a
point of wanting to support other young people to
attend Discovery College courses. One of the main
skills they have is the ability to put their own needs
to one side for the duration of the session in order to
be there for other young people. They are supported
by having a chance to de-brief at the end of each
session. If you think you would like to become a
peer mentor then please sign up for our Peer mentor