Poetry to Support Unsung Carers: Initiative Seeks Poets for UK Expansion
A novel initiative from Oxford Brookes University is helping "unofficial" carers find their voice through the power of words—and they are looking for poets to help expand the movement.
Millions of people in the UK provide full-time care without identifying as "carers." According to the NHS, this lack of self-recognition prevents many from accessing vital mental and financial support.
The Poetry by Carers project, born out of Dr. Dinah Roe’s research into the link between caregiving and creativity, hosts writing workshops to give these unsung caregivers the time, community, and tools to get creative.
"Literature can help you access and process feelings by providing a means to be less direct," says Dr. Roe. "Through metaphor and imagery, carers can explore complex emotions that might feel overwhelming in plain speech."
Following high demand and the successful publication of three poetry volumes, the project is now looking to expand nationwide.
Paid Opportunity: Call for Poets to Lead Future Workshops
To ensure more caregivers are seen and their creative ambitions supported, the project team has partnered with the Poetry School to train poets to lead future workshops across the UK. They are particularly keen to recruit poets with lived caregiving experience.
The two-part training course between 1-3rd July will cover the theory and practicalities of designing workshops for carers.
- Part 1: Training, discussion, and skills development.
- Part 2: Optional observed teaching practice and feedback with carers who have already participated in a Poetry By Carers workshop.
- Compensation: Participants who complete both parts of the course will receive a bursary of £120.
If you are a poet looking to make a profound community impact, you can learn more and sign up here via the Poetry School Course website.
Find out more about the project
- Read the incredible poems produced so far, including ‘I Sing, Therefore I Am’, and listen to audio recordings on the Poetry By Carers website.
- Learn more about the origins of this project from Dr. Roe’s Oxford Brookes Unscripted podcast.
- Listen to Dr. Roe and poet Sarah Hesketh, discuss the power of writing poetry on an episode of Woman's Hour from BBC Sounds (from 18 minutes 35 seconds).