New learning centre opens

A state-of-the-art new Learning Resource Centre and Training facility is set to open at The Retreat in York on Wednesday 30 April to provide information and learning resources on mental health.

The Retreat is a specialist mental health provider, working with the NHS to provide care for people with complex and difficult needs.

More than £75,000 was invested by The Retreat in the project, which involved converting space in a lower-ground floor area.

The Retreat’s head of facilities Martyn Ferguson said: “As a not-for-profit organisation, any surplus we make is reinvested in our services. So, as part of our programme of improvements, we have been able to convert a former plumbers’ workshop and store to provide a superb facility for the professional development of our staff. At the same time we have a brand new training facility.”

The centre, equipped with computer and presentation equipment, is open to Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members, university staff and students and staff from The Retreat as a reference facility.

A host of mental health publications, research papers and learning equipment is available within the centre which has been built on lower-ground floor at The Retreat. Staff can also come in and use the computers, borrow books and get help accessing information from the learning resource centre manager Gill Moss.

Gill said: “We are really pleased with the newly refurbished centre. It not only looks fantastic, but the learning and training equipment we now have is superb. I think everyone using it will agree that this really is a wonderful resource.”

The Retreat’s learning and development manager Tim Ward said: “We believe in providing our staff with the best training and development facilities and this new centre is second to none. We hope that everyone will treat it with respect and make use of this great new environment.”