Partner Testimonials
"Calderdale & Kirklees Recovery & Wellbeing College are part of South West Yorkshire NHS Foundation Partnership Trust and we have recently been working in partnership with Hannah-May Batley. The College offers a variety of learning opportunities to adults who typically have mental or physical health challenges to enhance their sense of wellbeing.
Hannah-May kindly delivered a 4 week course purely for our learners to teach them what is means to connect to a place – and themselves. Using stories, folklore, foraging, art and other means, Hannah-May helped our learners to discover a sense of belonging to the place they call home, their community and the landscape.
Our courses and workshops are usually quite informal, where learners are encouraged to learn together and share their own experiences and knowledge alongside the facilitators/tutors in a group setting and this course was no exception. The feedback we received from the learners on these sessions was superb with many citing that the course had been life-enhancing and would be keen to repeat the course, given the opportunity.
The College enjoyed working collaboratively with Hannah-May and found her to be not only friendly and professional but adaptable, taking into account the needs of our particular learners. We suggested that Hannah-May co-deliver the course with one of our volunteers (who is aware of our own particular safeguarding policies etc), to which she agreed and worked well with them, taking into account their views, suggestions and feedback relating to the course.
Hannah-May was also very open and honest with our learners and shared her own lived experience with them, something which they appreciated greatly and made them feel able to share more easily their own thoughts, feelings and experiences, which greatly enhanced what they got out of the course. Should the opportunity arise, we would very much like to continue to work with Hannah-May on this or other courses/projects to help our ever-growing cohort of learners discover how to live a life filled with purpose and value."
Rachel, College Co-ordinator
“The Therapeutic Team here at Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre attended a wonderful 1-day taster session of the "Rooting into Place" course. Guided by the incredibly skilled and knowledgeable Hannah-Mae, we delved into stories, folklore, art, and foraging. Hannah-Mae’s expertise and gentle guidance helped us discover myths and explore the fascinating uses of locally grown plants. The mindful drawing and mark-making activities allowed us to express ourselves openly, fostering a deeper connection with our surroundings. My colleagues and I left feeling more connected to ourselves, our home and community and we are all truly grateful for the journey.”
Emma, Head of Therapeutic Services
"Hannah is an amazing facilitator. She has a gentle strength and intuition that people take confidence from and an ability to create wonderment and ignite curiosity that inspires people on their own paths. Hannah’s practise feels deeply important at a time when ‘we’ are rudderless, with digital immersion as our primary influence and place of escape.
Hannah holds a remarkable breadth of knowledge of the land that holds her. She is truly rooted in her practise and cares for it, as it has cared for her. I know she has given Creative Recovery participants experiences and learning that they will be forever indebted for, and more than that, she has skilfully woven connections between people and place. Her work has been transformative and we are all better for it."
