Restart is a NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) mental health project that works with Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership’s (HSCP) Community Mental Health Teams. 

The project offers recovery based support to people living with severe and enduring mental health conditions. Staff focus on the quality of recovery, with personal development plans rather than care plans, and people on the programme are referred to as trainees rather than patients.

Trainees are given the opportunity to take part in various vocational training activities, to increase self-belief and build resilience and provide a greater sense of hope for the future. The programme helps around 250 people each year.

Steven Krausen, Glasgow City HSCP’s Manager at Restart, said: “Restart is an opportunity – it’s about providing hope that people can, and do, get well from severe and enduring mental health issues. We first collaborated with New College Lanarkshire in August 2019, offering recovery-based support and specialised programmes to users of our community mental health services. We recognise and accredit progress by providing SQA certification to those who successfully complete a college programme.

“We worked with the college to design and deliver an 18-week music programme at our bases in Broad Street, Bridgeton and Hathaway Street, Maryhill. This led to a live concert taking place in December 2019 with a third partner, New Rhythms for Glasgow, which provided an opportunity for family and friends to celebrate participants achievements and successes.” 
During the Covid – 19 outbreak the partnership with the college continued with classes moving online to support and sustain the relationships made.

Recognising that financial and geographic barriers prevented access to education, the Restart Project’s unique partnership with the college has allowed programmes and activities to remain inclusive and flexible. This has helped increased capacity, allowing more service users to improve quality of life and have opportunities to progress. 

This Academic Year 2022 to 2023 with students now back in the classroom, 122 people have enrolled in courses taught by staff from New Lanarkshire College. These included Music Industries and Performing Arts and Visual and Creative Arts.

Restart also collaborates with Glasgow Kelvin College and students have the opportunity to work toward Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework  Community Achievement Award at levels 4 ,5 and 6.

Glasgow Clyde College have also been providing tutors and various learning and development opportunities to promote Restart’s Peer Support Group called ‘Hathawaythere’, to be more independent and progress towards being a self-constituted group.

Restart trainees said: “Since I have joined the poetry group, I have felt it effortless to attend. I have and am thoroughly enjoying it. The group made me feel welcome and supported. The tutor has a great way of presenting everything and has made me realise that I can move forward.”

“I love both my college led courses, the teachers are both enthusiastic about their subject and keep me motivated to take part in all group activities. The classes are the highlight of my week and have taught me so much. I feel I have developed in many ways through the groups and also made some new friends."

Steven said: “The Restart project helps to keep people out of hospital, or helps to manage crisis without medical intervention. He added: “By joining up our resources we can meet trainees’ physical and emotional needs earlier and more efficiently.

“We say if you’re going to have a bad day, have your bad day with us, don’t have your bad day alone. I only ask that people go away with a smile on their face and come back – that’s it.”

For more information about Restart contact restart.project@ggc.scot.nhs.uk or call 0141 945 0563.