On Wednesday 1st December, City Lit Fellow Ruby Wax OBE officially opened the City Lit Wellbeing Centre in Covent Garden. Comedian, mental health campaigner and best-selling author Ruby Wax joined students, staff and special guests to cut the celebratory ribbon and formally declared the centre open, as part of the Grand Opening event.
Contents
- Grand opening event
- About the Wellbeing Centre
- Brand new learning spaces
Grand opening event
The event also included an ‘in conversation’ between City Lit Principal Mark Malcomson CBE and Ruby Wax. They discussed her latest book ‘A Mindfulness Guide for Survival’. A guide filled with exercises and information for when you’re suddenly forced to confront the hard truths or as Ruby likes to call them the BIG SIX realities – difficult emotions, uncertainty, loneliness, change, dissatisfaction and death. The conversation was followed by a book signing in our Gallery & Exhibition Space in Keeley Street. Ruby also met with students as she visited a number of classes in the Wellbeing Centre.
On opening the Centre, Ruby Wax said: “It is a great honour to be a City Lit Lifetime Fellow and to officially open the new Wellbeing Centre. If I had to start over again I would study art, history and Greek mythology at City Lit, and I would encourage everyone to take advantage of the many courses on offer.”
Mark Malcomson CBE, City Lit Principal and CEO, added: “We are delighted to have our dear friend and Fellow Ruby Wax opening our new Wellbeing Centre. Ruby has been a great advocate for mental health and a regular visitor and supporter of the College, and our Mental Wealth Festival, for many years so we couldn’t think of a better person to cut the celebratory ribbon today.”
If you're interested in taking a course in the new Wellbeing Centre, browse our online catalogue and enrol online today. We have courses starting throughout the year.
About the Wellbeing Centre
The Wellbeing Centre is located on Kean Street, a stone’s throw from our main building on Keeley Street in Covent Garden. The centre has been designed for the delivery of our Wellbeing and Counselling courses, providing bespoke, well-equipped, high quality studios, classrooms, and spaces to facilitate professional training in counselling, massage, complementary therapies and more.
Alan Billington, Head of Health and Wellbeing at City Lit, said: “We are proud to officially open our new Wellbeing Centre today, offering professional training in massage therapies, sports massage, counselling, aromatherapy, Reiki healing, facial skincare and more.
“The recent pandemic has made us all more aware of our health and wellbeing. For many, it provided time to reflect on our lives, careers and work-life balance. At the same time, the effects of the pandemic increased demand for wellbeing services. Now more than ever, we recognise the importance talking therapies, massage and complimentary therapies to support us in maintaining our physical and mental health.”
Tamikah Andrew-Thomas, Head of Psychology and Counselling at City Lit, added: “The Wellbeing Centre is a fantastic addition to City Lit and will offer all Londoners the opportunity to try something new or develop professional skills and knowledge to change career and enter professions within the Health and Wellbeing Industries. Our students have gone on to work as self-employed counsellors and therapists, set up clinics or practices, or find employment with high profile organisations and charities including Urban Massage, the NHS, and the Stress Project. ”
Related article: Introducing the Wellbeing Centre
Brand new learning spaces
The centre is purpose-built for delivering our Health and Wellbeing courses. Offering bespoke classrooms, well-equipped studios and high quality spaces for professional training in counselling, massage, complementary therapies and more. We've gone the extra mile to equip the centre with much of the equipment you will need to train with us.
It features four brand new learning spaces, including:
- Studios
- Two light and spacious studios massage and complementary therapies training course
- Classrooms
- Two new classrooms for our introductory, certificate and diploma courses in Counselling
- Breakout rooms/counselling pods
- 8 small break-out rooms/private counselling pods for trainees to practice their skills.
Health and Wellbeing courses in London and online
Join us for a course in yoga, Pilates, Feldenkrais or Tai Chi and take the first step in your wellbeing journey. Become more conscious of your health with a course in nutrition, Reiki and Alexander Technique.
Looking to take things to another level? Why not gain an invaluable qualification to help you develop a career as a massage therapist, a yoga instructor, a counsellor or a first aider?
Browse our health and wellbeing courses >
