Who are we?
PoetsIN is The Creative Mental Health Charity created by Paul and Sammie, two individuals who have lived-experience of mental ill-health diagnoses stretching back to childhood and a shared experience of coping with their symptoms to keep them safe. It was this shared experience that motivated Paul and Sammie to utilise their creative coping and management strategies to give others a voice and help them on their journey to recovery and health.
Paul and Sammie often say that creativity saved their lives – they usually follow this up with “we’re not even being dramatic” – and they’re not. If it wasn’t for the things they now teach PoetsIN “PINners,” they would likely have been one of the heartbreaking statistics we see every day.
PoetsIN helps those that struggle with mental health and wellbeing by utilising their Creative Mental Health Programmes™ and Wellbeing Workshops™ whilst educating and advising those that don’t struggle but want to know more about mental health and wellbeing and how to keep their minds healthy.
Our Roots
Rewind to February 2016, before PoetsIN existed. Both Paul and Sammie were working for a social media network for writers; something they are both passionate about. During their work there, they came across many like-minded people who also expressed how much creativity saved them from their own mental ill-health. It was this regular conversation that sparked conversation between Paul and Sammie and an idea was created. This idea was presented to the board of the organisation, who told them it was a “waste of time.” This was the catalyst to Paul and Sammie resigning and taking the biggest (but most vital) risk of their lives.
A Seed was Planted
March 2016 came and found Paul and Sammie pitching their idea to HMP Peterborough, with two managers seeing their vision for health and wellbeing, and two weeks later Paul and Sammie presenting their very first Creative Mental Health Programme™.
Over the course of the next year, Paul and Sammie tailored, tweaked, evolved, and measured the results of their Creative Programme, leading to a collecting of impact results which were a lot better than either of them expected.
The Pen is Mightier Than The Sword
– Edward Bulwer-Lytton
From Seeds Grow Mighty Oaks
September 2017, many challenges and triumphs later, PoetsIN The Creative Mental Health Charity was formed legally. Our programmes were launched into the community and we made commercial partnerships with MIND, The Shaw Trust, The OLLIE Foundation and others.
Today, 5 years from the initial “idea”, we help adults, children, and young people across the UK and beyond change their lives, improve their mental health and wellbeing, and educate everyone around mental health, wellbeing, and the stigma that still exists and how we can work together as a community to empower others to speak out and advocate towards a more inclusive society.
The Future of Creative Mental Health
Our award-winning Creative Mental Health Programme™ and Wellbeing Workshop™ works. It changes lives. It saves them. We employ a team where the majority (over 90%) have lived experience of mental illness. We use this experience to affect change, to inspire and empower, and to give those struggling a voice.
Moving forward, we will continue to pride ourselves on quality, inclusivity, and ensuring our services are accessible to all. We will continue to research and develop new programmes in areas we feel are lacking adequate support offerings, and to continue to lead in the field of creative mental health provision.
We plan to add support to the NHS in their provision of mental health, by providing interventions through their social prescription services, CAMHS, and IAPT services. We have the ability to deliver life saving support in a matter of days where they might currently take many months to years in an overstretched and underfunded provision.
More Information
To find out more about our Creative Mental Health Programme™ and services click here.
To find out more about the efficacy and impact of our programmes for adults, children, and young people, click here.
To find more about the organisations like the NHS and MIND that we have provided support to please click here.
To find out more about how we fund the charity, please check out our donor page here.
To donate to our charity, please click here for Just Giving.
We rely on the generosity of the community to help change lives. There are many ways to help, either by volunteering or donating. We appreciate all that you do for us.
How absolutely marvelous! What a simple, yet brilliant way to bring light where, for some, only darkness prevail.
I wonder how I might bring this concept into a reality, for young, troubled girls, who are stands bewilderedly staring at the fork in the road.
Thank you, Ida. We believe using our model, we can guide and help anyone, and we’re always open to suggestions and new partnerships. Words truly do help heal.
How could this be brought to the Unoted Stated
Hi, Diane, if you could send us an email using the contact form, we’d love to have a chat with you about your question. If you could give us some background and why you think PoetsIN needs to be rolled out over in the United States, we’d love to discuss further. – Sammie.
Worthy. Well done!
Hi there. What a great idea. Anything that promotoes rehabilitation through creative writing surely should be applauded. I attempt to write poetry and should like someone to take a look.
Trevor
Hi, Trevor.
We have a facebook group you are more than welcome to join. facebook.com/groups/poetsin
See you there!
Nice
This is a fantastic, beautiful thing. So glad I stumbled across you!
Thank you so much! We appreciate the lovely comment 🙂
Hi my name is Liam Kennedy and I’m a mental health sufferer and stage three cancer survivor.
I am a motivational speaker and spoken word poet.
I have currently written 695 poems.
I listen to my music and it inspires me to write a poem or a Rap.
This is my addiction, it’s not just about creating good music/Poetry it’s about inspiring the individual who reads it.
I am a prolific poet and my poetry is mental health related.
Each piece I write inspires and motivates the reader.
This was my destiny, to help my fellow warriors get their life back on track.
I was meant to have my mental health tested and come out of it the strongest possible version of myself.
I would absolutely love to hear your feedback and to also see if I can be a contributor to your organisation.
Thank you so much.
Have a blessed day.
Liam