MP meets mental health services making a difference in Dudley
A local MP has visited Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to learn more about how its services and future plans are supporting communities across Dudley and the wider Black Country with their mental health and care in the community.
Sonia Kumar, MP for Dudley, visited DY1 Community Centre to meet with staff from The Recovery College, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2025. The College provides free courses across the Black Country designed to help people build confidence, develop new skills, and manage their mental health and wellbeing. Courses are co-produced by people with lived experience alongside professionals, covering everything from resilience and wellbeing to creative learning and peer support.
The MP praised The Recovery College’s role in empowering people and creating opportunities for recovery through education.
The Trust also shared its work to transform older adult mental health services across the Black Country.
This includes:
Expanding community-based care, ensuring more people can be supported in their homes or local settings.
Investing in new, modern facilities with the new older adult mental health unit at Dorothy Pattison Hospital in Walsall now open, and a further unit at Edward Street Hospital in Sandwell due to open later in October
Exploring new models such as Hospital at Home, giving older adults more choice and flexibility in how they receive care.
The MP heard how these changes are designed to improve the quality of care, make services more accessible, and place people and their families at the heart of decision-making.
Following the visit, Sonia said: “It’s inspiring to see the fantastic work Black Country Healthcare is doing from The Recovery College, which has been life-changing for so many people, to the transformation of older adult mental health services. It is clear the Trust is committed to delivering modern, compassionate care that meets the needs of our communities.”
Jim Cole, Divisional Director of Older Adults said: “Our goal is to transform older adult mental health services across the Black Country, bringing care closer to home and designing support that truly meets each individual’s needs. It was a pleasure to show Sonia how our teams are innovating to deliver compassionate, high-quality care that helps people live well and remain connected to their communities.”
Kerry Wilkes, Recovery College Principal added: “Celebrating 10 years of the Recovery College in 2025 is a proud moment for us. It was wonderful to welcome Sonia and share how our courses empower people across the Black Country to build confidence, gain new skills, and take charge of their mental wellbeing. Our approach, working alongside people with lived experience, continues to show how education and support can transform lives.”
To find out more about the Recovery College and help shape the future of our Older Adult Mental Health Services across the Black Country visit www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk.
