Celebrating Words 4 Wellbeing - a community-wide pop-up event
Words and wellbeing
On 27 June 2024, Warwick launched Words for WellbeingLink opens in a new window a community-wide pop-up event that explored the transformative power of words and creativity to nurture open conversations and foster a culture valuing creativity and wellbeing.
Poets, writers and leaders in wellbeing hosted a programme of collaborative activities to unlock the therapeutic potential of creative expression and bridge the gap between wellbeing, culture and research.
The event encouraged networking and connections, and dialogue exploring, interdisciplinary innovation and creative space for reflection.
Enhancing positive mental health
In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, the need for good mental health and emotional wellbeing has never been more pressing. The pressures of life, work demands, and social isolation, have exacerbated stress and anxiety. Founded on Warwick Writing Programme research, Catherine Louch and Rachael Kirwan, Business Partnerships, brought together community artists, activists, and academics to shape an event that used the power of dialogue, reflection, poetry and storytelling to enhance positive mental health and psychological resilience.
“Poetry is everything – it is what it means to be a human and I feel nourished by it. The power of poetry is to be able to process pain and grief and your emotions in a healthy way, and for me poetry is a healthy coping mechanism for life, but also, it’s a joy and can be expressive and very life-giving. Poetry is a way that you can reflect, access, express, process and when I’m writing poetry, I don’t think about anything else.”
Navkiran Kaur MannLink opens in a new window, Spoken Word Poet
A showcase of talent and the healing potential of creativity
“Words are very important to me – nobody can take your words, you have to carve out your own space. Only you can say, this is what I think, this is what I believe, this is what is right. Our words are what connects us, things are so fast paced and I’m an advocate on slowing down. I think it’s important to check in with yourself, find out what you like, how your day was. Words have the power to heal.”
Maureen OnwunaliLink opens in a new window, Performer and Roundhouse Poetry Slam Champion and
Undergrate Student of Politics and International Studies
The curated, inclusive programme offered menopause, nutrition and wellbeing sessions, poetry inspired by nature for non-fluent English speakers, and a therapeutic space for personalised poetry. Informed by the University’s research into the positive impact of creativity on wellbeing, the evening programme and performances from John Bernard, Coventry Poet Laureate, Maureen Onwunali, Roundhouse Poetry Slam Champion, Navkiran Kaur Mann, Spoken Word Poet, and Quinn Collins MA Student on Warwick Writing ProgrammeLink opens in a new window, inspired action and interactions.
"It's been great to be part of this project and to write a piece to commemorate the event. The intention behind my poem "You Choosing You" was really a call to thought and action, to remind individuals that there is power in choosing yourself.
A great way of doing this is to put your thoughts on paper; you can shake off anything when you write. The fears begin to disappear, and the gigantic worries become small ink-sized dots as you lay them down like dead weights.
Sometimes we need to create the ideal world, and there is no better way than picking up your pen and summoning your imagination.”
John BernardLink opens in a new window, Coventry Poet Laureate
Widening participation in wellness
Warwick’s interdisciplinary expertise spanning psychology, arts, humanities, social sciences and more, provided the foundations for this inspirational wellbeing pilot. Our strong tradition of community engagement has built trust and connections with local communities, educational institutions and businesses, that has underpinned the success of Words 4 Wellbeing. The feedback and associations generated through the pilot, are now shaping our development of a new intervention, which will widen participation with local communities and businesses.
“Poetry is a physical art form, you should feel the words dancing and breathing, the pace of the words, replicating the heartbeat. When we connect it to nature, we pay attention to time and life. Writing nature poetry forces us to notice small things, as to write your experience, you have to slow down and observe, and then you start to realise things about yourself and the world.”
Robert GainerLink opens in a new window, Facilitator Interactive Writing Workshop and Postgraduate Researcher, Warwick Writing Programme