We’re delighted to share this poem written by Graham Price, one of our Directors. Happy New Year to all our supporters, colleagues, and friends! With apprehension, out goes the old,Without hesitation, in comes the new,All, ducking the travails for-told,Besetting many, possibly you. then, wrought havoc and chaos for too many folk,Now, hopefully ushers in a… Continue reading Towards the better, 2024
poemAndreena is a writer, poet, and lived experience speaker. She speaks passionately and accessibly about intersectionality, discrimination, authenticity, and allyship. We had a great chat with her about her book Charred – A survivor speaks her truth to inspire. Did you know that charred wood is actually stronger? Neither did we! As Andreena explained, the… Continue reading Featured poet: Andreena Leeanne
poempoemspoetryRona is a Disabled performer who has mobility and hearing impairments. She has forged a career in the performing arts, and here writes about her career path, the challenges she has faced and overcome, and what performing means to her. If you’re interested in arts, culture and campaigns from people from seldom heard and diverse… Continue reading Featured performer: Rona Topaz
artistcultureperformerI was diagnosed with ME/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 2017. Whilst some people have heard of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, like many sufferers, I prefer the term ME because fatigue is only one of the symptoms that I can experience, although for me it is one of the most difficult to manage. The fatigue can be… Continue reading Featured author – Hannah Pearl
authorinclusionThis year we celebrate with a big hooray, Since 20 plus years have passed, When this unique organisation of stature, Responded to the question being asked, Where are those service user led groups of calibre? There’s far too few, far too few, So began a momentous journey, the lack to fix, A journey that’s attracted… Continue reading Poem; Shaping Our Lives Celebrates
20 yearsAmander Wellings has kindly shared her poem Change the World with us, and written a little bit about her and her writing journey. Every month we send out a bulletin with arts, culture, and poetry from diverse communities. Sign up now. My name is Amander Wellings – yes I know it’s a weird spelling, blame… Continue reading Featured poet – Amander Wellings
poempoetryWe’re delighted to feature this poem by David Gilbert. As well as being a poet, David is a leading thinker and doer in the field of patient and public engagement – co-founder of The Centre for Patient Leadership, and Director of InHealth Associates. He is a former mental health service user and has 35 years… Continue reading Featured poet – David Gilbert
poempoemspoetryA poem by our Vice Chair Graham Price, about the research project he is involved in with Birmingham and Bristol Universities. The research will examine what difference social workers make to older people and carers’ lives and how they do this. (Find out more about the Social Work with Older People research). We’re looking to… Continue reading For the better
poemspoetryMany thanks to Diverse City for writing this guest post about their work in increasing and supporting diversity in the performing arts. If you want to read more about diverse arts, culture, poetry, theatre, music and more please sign up to our newsletter. Diverse City is a performing arts charity based in Dorset with a… Continue reading Spotlight on: Diverse City – change through the arts
A big thank you to author Lorna Collins who wrote this guest post for us about her writing. I wrote my new book, ‘Squawk: A Book of Bird Adventures’, in response to the extraordinary, colourful, hallucinatory experiences I have, which respond to my damaged brain. When I was 18 (23 years ago) I had a… Continue reading Featured author: Lorna Collins
artistauthorJem is a dancer and an artist from Leeds. She is autistic and has a passion for inclusive dance and inclusive art. Here, in her own words, she tells Shaping Our Lives what matters to her. If you’re interested in arts, culture and campaigns from people from seldom heard and diverse communities, sign up to… Continue reading Featured artist: Jem Clancy
artartistMany thanks to poet Francesca (who also writes under the pen name Emma Price, for sharing this blog and two poems with us). If you enjoy poetry, art, music, and theatre from diverse and excluded communities, then sign up to our Hear Me out ebulletin. My mum always jokes that I started writing before I… Continue reading Featured poet: Francesca Frawley
poempoemspoetryDeenah al-Aqsa is on the board of Trustees for Hidayah LGBT, a user-led group in our directory, and is an award-nominated British Bengali journalist. Deenah recently wrote an illuminating article for The Metro about her experiences of being a Muslim lesbian. Her article shed light on the milestone of coming out as being Western social… Continue reading Coming out is not the be all and end all of the queer experience
bloginclusionpoetryTony Demoncy is a disabled poet and artist. A survivor of bullying, child sex abuse, psychiatric abuse and other traumatic events, he grew up in a house filled with books and art, and has read avidly on topics ranging from Science, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Disability Rights, and more. When a child, Tony’s mother tried to… Continue reading Featured poet and artist: Tony Demoncy
artistpoempoemspoetryBy Dr. Rashmi Becker, MBE. Founder, Step Change Studios I have always loved dance. There’s something empowering about expressing yourself through movement and music. Growing up with an older brother with severe Autism, I developed an understanding of a non-verbal world in which communication and self-expression can be presented without words. As an adult, as… Continue reading Promoting potential through Bollywood and Ballroom
danceinclusioninvolvementA poem by Graham Price, Vice Chair of the National User Group of Shaping Our Lives. We’re again beginning,We’ve not been here beforeResolutions for our keepingMaybe, if only we knew what was in store Yes it’s a New Year to savourPredictions leapfrog one another, Kept for the record without favour,Denying chance change one for the other… Continue reading Poem: Welcome the New Year
poempoetryA poem by Graham Price, Vice Chair of the National User Group of Shaping Our Lives. I’ve a voracious diary It eats up all my days Even jostles to determine priority Clearly has very bad ways How best to cope with this assault Maybe to be less open and… Continue reading Diary reflections, seasons greetings
A poem by Graham Price, Vice Chair of the National User Group of Shaping Our Lives. Graham began writing poetry during the UK COVID lockdown in 2020. I want to write, to dance, to work, to play, even to muck about Surely it’s time to let me out, really let me out, I want to shout… Continue reading Surely it’s time to let me out?
newspoetryIn the Spring of 2020, the Service Users and Carers (SU&Cs) at Edge Hill University in the north of England decided to keep and share logs about their thoughts, feelings and experiences during lockdown. Their lockdown logs included drawings, prose, poetry, photos and videos. You can browse through an edited version of the lockdown logs… Continue reading Edge Hill University: Lockdown Logs
