Mental Health Training in Wigan
Specifically designed for the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector.
If you have not received a confirmation of your booking within 2 working days please email us at training@ewgcounselling.co.uk
If you have not received a confirmation of your booking within 2 working days please email us at training@ewgcounselling.co.uk
Delivered by Emotional Wellbeing Group (EWG) in partnership with Wigan Council
We’re proud to offer a range of free mental health and wellbeing training opportunities for individuals, volunteers, and organisations across Wigan Borough.
These courses are designed for people working or volunteering in the Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector, but are also open to anyone supporting others in the community.
To make it easier to find the right course for you, our training is now organised into the sections below.
Upcoming Courses
Lived Experience Mentoring
Date: 22nd October 2026
Time: 10am - 2pm
Venue: TBC
Becoming a Lived Experience Mentor
Using your own experiences to support others safely, confidently and effectively
Have you been through experiences in your own life that you now use, or would like to use, to help and support others?
Whether you are already providing lived experience support or are interested in taking on a mentoring role, this training will help you develop the skills, confidence and understanding to use your experiences in a positive, safe and meaningful way.
What is a Lived Experience Mentor?
A lived experience mentor is someone who draws on their own personal experiences to offer understanding, encouragement and support to others who may be facing similar challenges. By combining lived experience with counselling and helping skills, mentors can support others to explore their own situations, recognise their strengths and make informed choices.
However, being a good mentor isn't just about sharing your story. It's also about understanding when sharing your experiences may be helpful, when it may not, and how to maintain appropriate boundaries to protect both yourself and the people you support.
What will the training cover?
During this interactive session, we will explore:
The role of a lived experience mentor – understanding what mentoring involves and how it differs from other forms of support.
Using your lived experience effectively – recognising when, why and how to share your own experiences in ways that benefit others.
Counselling and helping skills – developing active listening, empathy and communication skills to support meaningful conversations.
Boundaries and safe practice – understanding your responsibilities, recognising your own limits and knowing when to step back.
Recognising individual experiences – appreciating that everyone's journey is different and what worked for you may not be right for someone else.
Empowering others – supporting people to build confidence, develop assertiveness and advocate for their own needs.
Information, advice and signposting – knowing when and how to connect people with appropriate services and wider support networks.
This session is suitable for anyone interested in becoming a lived experience mentor, as well as those already working or volunteering in peer support, lived experience or other helping roles who would like to strengthen their skills and reflect on their practice.
Training Details
Date: Thursday 22nd October 2026
Time: 10am – 2pm
Venue: EWG Counselling, 14 Market Street, Wigan, WN1 1HX
Accessibility: Please note that the training room is located on the first floor of a building without lift access. If this presents an accessibility barrier for you, please contact us in advance so we can discuss your needs.
Interested in attending?
Online Self-Guided Courses
Learn at your own pace, from anywhere.
Who this is for
People who want flexible learning that fits around work, volunteering, or family commitments.
Ideal for those new to mental health support or looking for a quick refresher.
What you’ll get
Bite-sized, self-paced online modules
Videos, reflection exercises and downloadable resources
Certificates of completion for most courses
Courses include
Suicide Awareness (Online) – A short, interactive course to build confidence in talking safely about suicide.
Trauma & Resilience (Level 2) – Learn about trauma, how it affects the brain, and how to build resilience and recovery.
Becoming a Lived Experience Mentor (New!) – Discover how to use your personal experience safely to support others, with lessons on boundaries, self-care and signposting.
Perfect for: Anyone who prefers independent study or wants to learn flexibly.
Suicide Awareness Training
ONLINE : SELF GUIDED
30 minute training aimed at helping people feel more equipped and confident talking to someone who is having thoughts of suicide.
RSPH Healthy Minds Manchester
ONLINE: : SELF GUIDED
A new 1 hour online course to understand; the difference between mental health and poor mental health, the things we can do to help us cope with negative thoughts and feelings and the benefits of talking about and sharing our thoughts and feelings with someone we trust.
Awareness & Early Intervention Training
Build confidence to talk about mental health and support others safely.
Who this is for
Volunteers, community leaders, or staff who want practical tools for supporting mental wellbeing without needing professional qualifications.
What you’ll get
Practical skills to recognise early signs of distress
Guidance on how to talk about suicide safely
Confidence to signpost or refer people to help
Courses include
SafeTALK (Half Day) – Learn how to spot signs of suicide and connect people with help.
SPEAK (3.5-Hour Workshop) – Build confidence to talk safely about suicide and offer support.
ASK (Online, 2 Mornings) – Learn how to support children and young people (ages 5–14) who may be having thoughts of suicide.
Connect 5 – Changing the Conversation on Mental Wellbeing - A three-module course suited to staff/volunteers in any setting. Gain tools to hold safe, meaningful conversations about wellbeing, help someone explore their options, and support action for change.
Perfect for: Community workers, volunteers, or anyone wanting to start important conversations about mental health.
Available to book…
Connect 5: 3 Session Course
Dates: Multiple - click book now to see our upcoming dates
Connect 5 – Changing the Conversation on Mental Wellbeing
Who this is for:
Anyone working or volunteering in community, voluntary, or organisational settings who wants to develop confidence and tools to support mental wellbeing in everyday interactions.
What you’ll get:
Practical, evidence-based tools and techniques to use in everyday conversations about mental health.
A three-module course (half-day sessions)
SPEAK : Online course
Date: Wednesday 24th June 2026
Time: 9:30am - 1pm
Location: Online
Consider the attitudes, myths, and stigma around suicide how to encourage open, safe and sensitive conversation about suicide and to support a safety plan.
Previous courses…
ASK :Assessing Suicide in Kids
2 Day Guided Online Course
Suicide prevention workshop for professionals working with children and young people aged 5-14 years old, complements learning in ASIST.
SP-OT : Guided Online Course
Understand the prevalence and impact of suicide, explore the language and challenges, recognise the ‘signs’ that may indicate thoughts of suicide.
SafeTalk
Become a recognised “Suicide Alert Helper” on this half day workshop, which provides all resources, and certification.
Skill-Building & Specialist Workshops
Develop deeper skills for supporting others.
Who this is for
Those who already have some awareness and want to take their learning further — such as support staff, peer supporters, and community coordinators.
What you’ll get
Hands-on learning with qualified trainers
Group discussions and role-play practice
Certificates and recognised qualifications (for some courses)
Courses include
ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, 2 Days) – The internationally recognised “gold standard” in suicide intervention.
Counselling Skills Workshop – Develop active listening, empathy, and effective communication skills.
Group Dynamics Training – Learn how groups function, manage conflict, and foster inclusion.
Trauma & Resilience (Level 2) – Learn how trauma affects the brain and body, and how to apply trauma-informed approaches in your work. Build confidence in supporting others’ recovery and resilience while maintaining your own wellbeing.
Perfect for: People supporting others directly in community or organisational settings.
Counselling Skills
Date: 18th June 2026
Time: 10am - 4pm
An introduction to basic counselling skills training for anyone who wants to build their skills in working with people and improve their professional and personal relations.
This course will cover active listening, empathy, and asking open-ended questions; self-reflection and personal development, giving you the opportunity to reflect on your own values, beliefs, and how they influence interactions with others; the importance of adhering to ethical guidelines and boundaries; exploring appropriate times and situations to use basic counselling skills and when to signpost for further support.
This training has already taken place.
Healing from Trauma and Building Resilience (online)
Tuesday 9th June 2026 10am-12pm
Wednesday 9th September 10am-12pm
This 2 hours training supports delegates to understand trauma across the life course and its impact on individuals.
This session also explores how we can support clients to build resilience and protective factors to mitigate their impact through trauma .
ASIST: 2 day in person course
Dates: 23rd & 24th September 2026
Time: 9am - 5pm
Venue: TBC
Learn how to provide suicide first aid interventions and reduce the immediate risk of suicide in this two day skills building workshop.
Understand the ways that personal and societal attitudes affect views on suicide and interventions, provide guidance and suicide first aid to a person at risk of suicide, identify the key elements of an effective suicide safety plan, recognize other important aspects of suicide prevention including life-promotion and self-care.
Lived Experience Mentoring
Date: 15th October 2026
Time: 10am - 3pm
Venue: TBC
Becoming a Lived Experience Mentor
Using your own journey to support others safely and effectively
Supporting learners to develop an understanding of a mentoring role and use their own experience to provide helpful strategies for others whilst acknowledging that each experience is unique.
Additionally, learning to provide information, advice, signposting and support networks and helping those that support to develop assertiveness skills to aid in getting the help they need.
Lived Experience, Mentoring & Counselling Skills Training
Turn your personal experience and empathy into a skillset to support others safely.
Who this is for
People with lived experience of mental health, trauma, or recovery who want to use that experience to help others — and anyone who’d like to build stronger communication, listening, and support skills for use in community or voluntary settings.
What you’ll get
Guidance on how to draw from lived experience safely and appropriately
Practical counselling and listening skills to support others with empathy and confidence
Understanding how to maintain clear boundaries and distinguish between mentoring, counselling, and friendship roles
Tools for self-care, reflection, and signposting to ensure safe, sustainable support
Opportunities for continued learning and progression within the mentoring and wellbeing network
Courses include
Lived Experience Mentor (Online Self-Guided) – Learn how to use your story to support others, establish boundaries, and maintain self-care.
Counselling Skills Workshop (In-Person) – Develop active listening, empathy, and communication techniques for use in mentoring or community support.
Peer Mentoring in Practice (Workshop) – Apply what you’ve learned through guided scenarios and reflective practice, building confidence and structure in your mentoring role.
Perfect for: Individuals who want to combine their personal experience with strong interpersonal skills to support others in a safe, structured way.
Lived Experience Mentoring
Date: 22nd October 2026
Time: 10am - 2pm
Venue: TBC
Becoming a Lived Experience Mentor
Using your own experiences to support others safely, confidently and effectively
Have you been through experiences in your own life that you now use, or would like to use, to help and support others?
Whether you are already providing lived experience support or are interested in taking on a mentoring role, this training will help you develop the skills, confidence and understanding to use your experiences in a positive, safe and meaningful way.
What is a Lived Experience Mentor?
A lived experience mentor is someone who draws on their own personal experiences to offer understanding, encouragement and support to others who may be facing similar challenges. By combining lived experience with counselling and helping skills, mentors can support others to explore their own situations, recognise their strengths and make informed choices.
However, being a good mentor isn't just about sharing your story. It's also about understanding when sharing your experiences may be helpful, when it may not, and how to maintain appropriate boundaries to protect both yourself and the people you support.
What will the training cover?
During this interactive session, we will explore:
The role of a lived experience mentor – understanding what mentoring involves and how it differs from other forms of support.
Using your lived experience effectively – recognising when, why and how to share your own experiences in ways that benefit others.
Counselling and helping skills – developing active listening, empathy and communication skills to support meaningful conversations.
Boundaries and safe practice – understanding your responsibilities, recognising your own limits and knowing when to step back.
Recognising individual experiences – appreciating that everyone's journey is different and what worked for you may not be right for someone else.
Empowering others – supporting people to build confidence, develop assertiveness and advocate for their own needs.
Information, advice and signposting – knowing when and how to connect people with appropriate services and wider support networks.
This session is suitable for anyone interested in becoming a lived experience mentor, as well as those already working or volunteering in peer support, lived experience or other helping roles who would like to strengthen their skills and reflect on their practice.
Training Details
Date: Thursday 22nd October 2026
Time: 10am – 2pm
Venue: EWG Counselling, 14 Market Street, Wigan, WN1 1HX
Accessibility: Please note that the training room is located on the first floor of a building without lift access. If this presents an accessibility barrier for you, please contact us in advance so we can discuss your needs.
Interested in attending?
Places are available, and we would love to welcome anyone who wants to develop their ability to support others through lived experience.
Please get in touch to book your place or find out more.
Counselling Skills
Date: 23rd January 2026
Time: 10am - 4pm
An introduction to basic counselling skills training for anyone who wants to build their skills in working with people and improve their professional and personal relations.
This course will cover active listening, empathy, and asking open-ended questions; self-reflection and personal development, giving you the opportunity to reflect on your own values, beliefs, and how they influence interactions with others; the importance of adhering to ethical guidelines and boundaries; exploring appropriate times and situations to use basic counselling skills and when to signpost for further support
This training has already taken place.
Subscribe for updates when places become available
Additional Training Opportunity
Alongside our free training and education programme, we also offer a small number of accredited courses delivered by our team, which may be of interest to organisations looking to further develop skills within their workforce.
Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid (RQF)
Build practical skills to support mental health in your organisation or community.
Who this is for
Staff, volunteers, and organisations who want to develop a more formal understanding of mental health first aid, and feel confident supporting others in a safe and structured way.
What you’ll get
A recognised Level 3 qualification in Mental Health First Aid
Practical skills to recognise signs of mental health concerns
Guidance on how to respond and support someone appropriately
Increased confidence in having conversations about mental health
Understanding of how to signpost and access further support
Course Details
2-day accredited course
Delivered by EWG trainers
Upcoming dates: Thursday 28th & Friday 29th May 9:30am to 4:30pm delivered in Wigan Town Centre
Please be aware that the building is accessible by two sets of stairs
💷 Course Fee:
This course is delivered by EWG but sits outside of the funded training programme, and therefore carries a fee of £269
We offer a 15% discount for community groups and local services, making it more accessible than typical market rates which can be as much as £450
Simply use the code WIGANVCFSE
👉 Find out more:
https://www.cedarstherapyinstitute.co.uk/faq-level-3-award-in-mental-health-first-aid-rqf