Restore - working for mental health

Mental Health First Aid - 16th, 18th, 23rd, 25th Sep
2025-09-16 09:30 - 13:00 (Europe/London) | Location: Online
4x half days, online. This accredited training enables you to become a Mental Health First Aider, with the ability to recognise the signs of mental ill health, provide support and guidance towards professional help.

Writing for Self Expression (Part 1)
2025-09-16 10:30 - 12:00 | Location: Online
On this course we will listen to and talk about some poems and pieces of prose, before trying out some expressive writing of our own. Expressive writing is not creative writing or therapy, but a form of self-expression which helps a person to think about their life and put their thoughts and feelings into words with often surprising results. It is personal, freestyle writing that is not constrained by concerns about the ‘end result’ but fosters personal awareness, resilience and wellbeing.

Understanding Depression
2025-09-17 10:00 - 13:00 | The Straw Bale, Restore, Manzil Way, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1YH, United Kingdom
This course provides a chance to think about what depression is like and how it affects someone’s life, as well as an understanding of what causes depression and how to respond to it.

The course will examine personal experiences to illustrate that depression is not an isolated experience and that it is possible to recover and maintain wellbeing.

What is Mental Health?
2025-09-17 13:00 - 16:00 | ORC at Didcot Civic Hall, Britwell Road, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 7JN, United Kingdom
This course explores what is meant by ‘mental health’ and what good mental health looks like. We consider how mental health problems may be diagnosed, or understood as part of our life experiences. The course explores the meaning of recovery and looks at support available on our recovery journey.

Loss, Grief and Wellbeing (Part 1)
2025-09-18 10:30 - 12:00 | Location: Online
This course is designed to provide information and ideas for support for anyone interested in or who has experienced grief or bereavement. It explores the various types of grief we can experience, and how grief can impact on our lives, wellbeing, and mental health. We explore some of the common theories of grief, share wellbeing tips, and examine how we may be able to support someone who is experiencing grief. Signposting is provided for further sources of support. We encourage students to think about their own experience of grief and loss, and how it might affect them during the course. The course is not usually suited to anyone who has experienced a recent, significant personal loss or bereavement.

Let's Talk Loneliness
2025-09-18 13:00 - 16:00 | The Straw Bale, Restore, Manzil Way, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1YH, United Kingdom
This course is suitable for anyone wishing to understand more about loneliness, and how it can affect us in our day to day lives,particularly in terms of our mental health. We explore how to cope with a sense of loneliness and manage it the way we want to, which could include seeking companionship through local charities.

Mindful Movement with T'ai Chi Chih
2025-09-19 10:00 - 13:00 | ORC at Witney Mind, 65 Moorland Road, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 6LS, United Kingdom
This course offers the opportunity to learn some easy T’ai Chi Chih movements as a stress-reduction tool to help in recovery. No previous knowledge or equipment is required and you will be given opportunities to experience the beneficial effects in your own mind and body whilst being guided through movements during the workshop. There will be details of a link to a free online tutorial and furtherpractical classes.

Coping with Stress and Anxiety (Part 2)
2025-09-19 14:00 - 15:30 | Location: Online
This course aims to increase understanding about anxiety and stress and how to manage it better.

Self Compassion Skills (Part 1)
2025-09-22 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-22 14:00 - 16:00 | The Straw Bale, Restore, Manzil Way, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1YH, United Kingdom
A Four Part In Person Course. Compassion for ourselves and others can be hard to maintain when faced with hardship and mental health difficulties. In this course, we will explore what compassion means, how compassion supports wellbeing and what can get in the way. We will work on practical skills such as grounding, breathing exercises, and compassionate voice and imagery. Some sessions will also have a therapy dog present. PLEASE NOTE: This is a newly developed course in collaboration with the University of Oxford and has a RESEARCH COMPONENT consisting of questionnaires at the start and end of each session. The research explores whether the course is effective and whether the presence of a THERAPY DOG might impact this. The therapy dog will be randomly allocated to attend either the first three sessions for one group or only the fourth session for the other group. Anyone who signs up to the course will be invited to take part in the research, and you will receive a full information sheet when signing up. You can attend this course EITHER morning or afternoon – please let us know if you have a preference.

Tackling Stigma and Discrimination (Part 2)
2025-09-22 14:00 - 15:30 | Location: Online
This course explores what stigma and discrimination are and how they may affect us. The course looks at actions we can take to challenge social stigma, discrimination in society and self-stigma, whilst keeping in mind our own wellbeing.

Finding your Pathway through the Services
2025-09-23 10:00 - 13:00 | The Straw Bale, Restore, Manzil Way, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1YH, United Kingdom
This course will explore some of the common frustrations that people can face when looking for support , with particular focus on problem solving. Students will discover different ways in which they might prepare for an appointment, deal with long waiting times and have their needs met by appropriate services.

Writing for Self Expression (Part 2)
2025-09-23 10:30 - 12:00 | Location: Online

Understanding Psychosis
2025-09-24 10:00 - 13:00 | The Straw Bale, Restore, Manzil Way, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1YH, United Kingdom
This course aims to increase understanding of what it can be like to experience psychosis, what might cause it and how it can be defined. The course considers factors which help and hinder recovery, and aims to inspire students with hope that recovery is possible and achievable.

Introduction to ORC
2025-09-24 18:30 - 20:30 | Location: Online
This course is designed for all new students as part of the enrolment process. The course is designed to explain to students how ORC works, and to highlight some of the potential benefits of attending our courses. There is an opportunity to explore what ‘recovery’ means to us as individuals, and to think about what helps recovery. We will also spend some time considering next steps.

Loss, Grief and Wellbeing (Part 2)
2025-09-25 10:30 - 12:00 | Location: Online

Exploring Employment Gaps
2025-09-25 13:00 - 16:00 | The Straw Bale, Restore, Manzil Way, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1YH, United Kingdom
This course explores students’ concerns around employment gaps, chiefly though not exclusively related to mental illness, and the associated feelings and anxieties. It explores the pros and cons of being open about having gaps, explains how to reframe experiences in a positive light, and looks at the employer perspective. Practicalities are explored, including how to provide references if you have not recently been in employment, ways to gain experience, how to find good employers, and CV tips (though this is not a CV workshop).

Body Image and Mental Health
2025-09-26 10:00 - 13:00 | ORC at Restore Banbury, 28 Calthorpe Street, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 5EX, United Kingdom

Five Ways to Wellbeing (Part 1)
2025-09-26 10:30 - 12:00 | Location: Online
This course offers a chance to focus on one of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing each week over 5 weeks : Keep Learning, Give, Connect, Be Active and Take Notice.

Chiltern 50 Ultra Challenge
2025-09-27 07:00 | Oxfordshire
Chiltern 50 is a 50 km looped challenge in some of the best Chiltern countryside, with nature reserves and historical trails. Followed with a Saturday night celebration BBQ, bar & entertainment in Henley basecamp.

Date: Sat 27th September 2025Location: Henley basecampDistance: 50km, 25km or 10km – it’s up to you!

Ultra challenge provides a series of endurance events for a wide range of fitness & ages. It’s the UK’s #1 series of treks & trail runs. Full support and hospitality is available with each route.

Click here for more event info on the Ultra Challenge website.

Self Compassion Skills (Part 2)
2025-09-29 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-29 14:00 - 16:00 | The Straw Bale, Restore, Manzil Way, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1YH, United Kingdom

Suicide First Aid - 30th Sep
2025-09-30 09:30 - 17:00 | Restore’s Training Room, Manzil Way, Restore, Manzil Way, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1YH, United Kingdom
One full day, in-person. This accredited training enables you to become a Suicide First Aider, with the ability to recognise the signs that someone may be experiencing suicidal thoughts, provide immediate and compassionate support, and offer guidance towards professional help.

Location

Organiser

Writing for Self Expression (Part 3)
2025-09-30 10:30 - 12:00 | Location: Online

Music, Mood and Wellbeing
2025-09-30 13:00 - 16:00 | The Straw Bale, Restore, Manzil Way, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1YH, United Kingdom
A One Part In Person course. Music is around us everywhere we go and impacts how we feel everyday. This course discusses the link between music and emotion, looks at what happens in our body and brain when we listen to music, and explores the link between music and our sense of identity. We will share ideas within the group for using music to promote our wellbeing.

Mental Health First Aid - 1st & 8th Oct
2025-10-01 09:30 - 17:00 | Restore’s Training Room, Manzil Way, Restore, Manzil Way, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1YH, United Kingdom
Two days, in person at Restore. This accredited training enables you to become a Mental Health First Aider, with the ability to recognise the signs of mental ill health, provide support, and guidance towards professional help.

Tackling Stigma and Discrimination
2025-10-01 13:00 - 16:00 | The Straw Bale, Restore, Manzil Way, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1YH, United Kingdom

Living with Social Anxiety (Part 1)
2025-10-02 10:30 - 12:00 | Location: Online
Social anxiety is the most common form of anxiety, and can have a substantial impact on our lives. This course explores what social anxiety is (and isn’t), and how it may arise. We explore strategies and tools to help us live better with social anxiety, plus ways to get more support. This is a welcoming course for anyone who sometimes struggles in social situations.

What is Mental Health?
2025-10-02 13:00 - 16:00 | The Straw Bale, Restore, Manzil Way, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1YH, United Kingdom

Music, Mood and Wellbeing
2025-10-03 10:00 - 13:00 | ORC at Witney Mind, 65 Moorland Road, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 6LS, United Kingdom
