Who is the Pocket Poet?
I am an award-winning poet and writing for wellbeing enthusiast based in Wiltshire. I have lived with various mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and OCD, since my early teens, and have always used writing as a therapeutic tool to promote self-awareness and self-expression.
I run writing for wellbeing workshops for groups and individuals and also offer a bespoke poetry writing service for those looking to give a personalised poem as a gift. I have loved writing poems for as long as I can remember (the oldest poem I have is one I wrote aged seven), and I often had my writing included in local school anthologies. I wrote poems as birthday presents and was even 'commissioned' by my mum a couple of times to come up with a witty verse for the family Christmas card. I also found that poetry helped me to express sympathy, support and gratitude for my family and friends in a way that felt more authentic and meaningful than trying to find the words in every day conversation. These days I write mainly to express myself and to process my thoughts, but my favourite thing is finding a way to connect with myself and with others through poetry, and that is what I hope I can help you with too. |
I have a degree in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University and recently won second prize in the International Oxford Brookes Poetry Competition (click here to see my winning poem on their website)!
I am a member of Lapidus (the International Association for Words for Wellbeing) as well as a Professional member of the National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE), with a particular interest in using Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes. My previous 'day jobs' have included, running mental health peer support groups, youth work with 10-16 year olds, and working as a library assistant where I ran weekly story times for young children and their families. I have recently completed a Poetry Project at a Care Home in Melksham and my next project is working in collaboration with local youth charity, Wiltshire Mighty Girls, promoting positive body image amongst young people. |
Contact me using the links below or email [email protected]