Poetry Express is the quarterly newsletter of Survivors? Poetry, a national literature organisation dedicated to promoting poetry written by survivors of mental distress, explains Emma Watson.
The newsletter is distributed free of charge to over 2,000 people on our mailing list, and reaches many more people via copies sent to mental health, education, leisure and arts centres. We receive funding for the newsletter from the Arts Council of England, London Arts, City Parochial Foundation and Lloyds TSB Foundation. Survivors? Poetry also organises workshops, performances, readings and publishing projects throughout the UK.F or people unable to come to our workshops and events, the newsletter is their primary link with the organisation and other survivors who share their passion for poetry.
The Survivors? Poetry Newsletter, as it was first known, existed to publicise Survivors? Poetry events in London and the UK. The newsletter has developed over the past three years and now presents a range of information about workshops and performances, new poetry and books, writing competitions and poetry events organised by Survivors? Poetry and other literary and survivor-led organisations. It became Poetry Express in July 2000, the winning suggestion in our competition for readers to rename the newsletter.
Although Poetry Express is not a poetry magazine, it regularly features readers? personal stories of how they came to write poetry and how writing has been helpful to them. Nearly all of these articles evolved from letters from readers who wanted to share their experiences of mental distress and the beneficial effects of poetry in their lives. Poetry is included as part of these personal stories because very often a reader?s own poems most powerfully speak of their experiences. It is wonderful to be able to publish such vibrant and moving stories from people whose voices often have not been heard before. In a recent issue, for example, Georgina Wakefield wrote about the healing effects of poetry in her family?s life after her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Georgina describes poetry as her "best friend". "It has quenched my thirst and dampened my rage/comforting my soul" (?Life Without Poetry?). Georgina?s collection of poetry, ?Schizophrenia: A Mother?s Story?, is due to be published and her story will now reach many more survivors.
Survivors? Poetry is supported by dedicated volunteers who run our regular events, and the newsletter also benefits from the talents of these volunteers. Roy Holland as Reviews Editor heads a team of volunteers who review publications of new poetry. The newsletter contains full listings of forthcoming events, and volunteer Xochitl Tuck, co-ordinator of our monthly Poetry Café event in Covent Garden, writes a regular column about the talented new poets who have performed, often for the first time, at the event. Poetry Express has also featured articles written by performers, workshop participants and audience members.
Survivors? Poetry has a network of over 30 affiliated groups in the UK who meet regularly to write and perform poetry, and the newsletter offers groups the opportunity to showcase their work and publicise events, focusing on a different group in each issue.
We have begun work on a Survivors? Poetry website, and plan to feature Poetry Express once the site is up and running. The newsletter will continue to be available in printed format for those who do not have access to the Internet, as survivors (and, indeed, writers) can be isolated individuals.
Emma Watson is Editor of Poetry Express
t: 020 7916 5317; e: emma@survivorspoetry.org.uk