Tag Archives: Carer Poetry

When a Picture Speaks: Ealing Carers Art and Poetry, September 2026

By Matthew McKenzie – Ealing Carers Poetry Group facilitator

At our September Ealing Carers Poetry Group, we tried something different: bringing drawing and poetry together. I invited carers to sketch something simple, notice the words and feelings it brought to mind, and then write as though the picture could speak.

There was no expectation to be an artist or an experienced poet. A few lines on paper were enough. What mattered was giving carers room to express something important to them.

Draw a moment, write its voice

The drawings included a cup of tea, a bed, a slice of watermelon, a circle, a birthday card, two hands holding one another and a smiling sun. Each became a starting point for a different poem.

A cup of tea brought out the closeness between a carer and her son, and the hope found in sitting together. A drawing of a bed led to a poem about watching someone you care for and wishing you could do more. The green, black and red of a watermelon became a way to describe the daily cycle of caring and the return of brighter moments.

Other poems explored bonds that continue through difficult times, memories held in an old birthday card, the reassurance of holding hands, and the need for carers to find moments of joy and self compassion.

Some drawings were emailed to me; others were held up to the webcam. Even when a picture was difficult to see on screen, the person who made it could tell us what it meant. Hearing each poem in the carer’s own voice added something the image alone could not convey.

The objects we keep close

For a second exercise, I asked carers to choose an everyday object and begin with the idea, “You might think this is just…” A cardigan became a source of comfort. A pen represented both creativity and the practical work of caring. A book of poems, a blanket and an iPad used to play music opened up thoughts about memory, connection and changing emotions.

I was struck by how generously everyone listened. Carers noticed details in one another’s work and offered encouragement. One person found it difficult to write during the exercise, and that was welcome too. Being part of the group does not depend on producing a poem every time.

Watch the carers’ poems and artwork

I have brought the drawings and poems together in a short video so that more people can see what the group created:

Thank you to everyone who drew, wrote, read aloud, listened and supported someone else. The session reminded me that a simple picture can hold a great deal of experience, and that carers deserve space for their own creativity as well as their caring role.

Join us

The Ealing Carers Poetry Group is a welcoming online space for unpaid carers, including mental health carers. You can write, share, or simply come along and listen. Carers from Ealing and beyond are welcome to enquire.

To ask about the next online session, email info@ealingcarerspartnership.org or call 0203 475 9891.

I will also be leading a free in person poetry workshop on Thursday 8 October 2026, 11 am–1 pm, at Ealing Central Library. Places are limited, so please contact Ealing Carers Partnership to register.

The Heart of Care – Ealing Carers Online Poetry Group August 2026

By Matthew McKenzie – Poetry group facilitator

The Ealing Carers Online Poetry Group returned in August for another warm and creative evening of poetry, reflection and peer support. Delivered with the support of Ealing Carers Partnership, the group has now been running for two years and continues to provide carers with a welcoming space in which they can express themselves, meet others and take some valuable time away from the pressures of their caring roles.

Carers joined the session for different reasons. Some wanted inspiration to write, while others valued the opportunity to relax, listen and spend time with people who understood the realities of caring. One member described how they often begin an exercise believing they will not be able to write anything, only to be surprised by the words and emotions that emerge.

This is an important part of the poetry group. Nobody needs to be an experienced poet, and there is no pressure to read aloud. People are welcome to participate at their own pace, listen to other carers and gradually build their confidence.

Exploring “The Heart of Care”

The main writing exercise was called “The Heart of Care”. Carers were given the beginnings of lines and invited to complete them using words drawn from their own experiences. They could choose whether or not to use rhyme.

The poems explored dedication, courage, memories, exhaustion, prayer, quiet reflection and the determination required to continue caring through difficult days. Familiar moments, including sharing a laugh, shedding a tear or simply making a cup of tea, became meaningful images within the poems.

Although everyone worked from the same starting point, each poem developed its own character and voice. One contribution focused on the strength needed to continue walking along the “winding road” of caring. Another described finding a voice and taking a stance, while another ended by recognising that small moments of reflection can help build the core of a carer’s wellbeing.

The exercise reminded us that poetry does not need to be complicated. A few carefully chosen words can express feelings that may otherwise be difficult to explain.

Listening, reflecting and encouraging one another

After each poem was shared, group members were encouraged to ask thoughtful questions and reflect on what they had heard. This created some powerful conversations about finding your voice, managing negative thoughts and recognising your own efforts.

One carer spoke about replacing late-night self-criticism with positive affirmations: reminding themselves that they had done their best and did not need to solve everything before allowing themselves to rest.

Another spoke about the “will” carers must find each morning to get up and continue. Even though they felt nervous about reading aloud, the encouragement they received demonstrated the peer-support element at the heart of the group.

Carers were encouraged to keep their poems together in a folder or notebook. Returning to words about hope, warmth, identity and resilience can offer reassurance during times when someone is feeling low or overwhelmed.

When a carer’s poem becomes a song

A particularly moving part of the evening came when one member shared a song developed from their own poem about caring. The piece was originally inspired by the theme “A Carer Is” and offered a heartfelt message to other carers: you are seen, you matter and the contribution you make deserves to be recognised.

Members described the song as a love letter to carers. They felt it was something from which carers could draw comfort and strength, particularly because recognition does not always come from services or even from the people receiving care.

The writer generously gave permission for the song to be shared with other carer groups, forums and events.

Listen to the carer’s song here:
https://www.mureka.ai/song-detail/125940401242114

Carers helping to shape future poetry events

The session was also an opportunity to ask carers what they would like to experience at upcoming in-person and hybrid poetry events.

Ideas included combining poetry with art, drawing and music; creative activities based on hope, wellbeing and resilience; choosing unexpected words from a hat and using them to write a poem or short story; and using simple unfinished lines to help people try poetry for the first time.

Members also suggested introducing relaxation, breathing and gentle body-awareness activities. These could help carers settle their minds, release some tension and feel ready to write.

Most importantly, carers wanted opportunities to perform their own work and help lead parts of future workshops. One member volunteered to lead a creative word-picking exercise at a future event. This is an exciting step towards making the programme increasingly carer-led and co-produced.

Upcoming activities discussed during the session included an Ealing Central Library workshop on 8 October, a future workshop at Greenford Library and an event at Manor House Library in Lewisham on 4 November. Further details will be shared once all arrangements have been confirmed.

Join the Ealing Carers Online Poetry Group

The Ealing Carers Online Poetry Group is more than a writing workshop. It is a friendly and supportive community where carers can connect, develop their creativity and have their experiences heard and valued.

You do not need to consider yourself a poet. You can write in rhyme or free verse, share something you have already created or simply attend and listen. Carers from Ealing and beyond are welcome to take part.

The next online meeting is planned for Friday 25 September 2026. Please contact the group organiser for the joining details and to be added to the mailing list.

info@ealingcarerspartnership.org

Whether you are looking for creative inspiration, companionship, a little relaxation or a safe way to express your caring experiences, you will be warmly welcomed.

Gatekeeping Care – PCREF Poetry on Minority Ethnic Mental Health Carers

By Matthew McKenzie

My latest poetry video, “Gatekeeping Care,” explores the barriers minority ethnic unpaid carers can face when trying to navigate mental health services.

This is where unwritten rules, complicated medical language and unexplained carer rights can leave people struggling to understand how to obtain support.

Unpaid carers can also have their concerns not taken seriously.

The poem also reflects on what it feels like when decisions are made without carers and their cultural or religious beliefs are overlooked.

Through this poem, I want to raise awareness of why the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) matters to carers and families.

I feel mental health services must listen to carers, communicate clearly and recognise them as equal partners rather than leaving them feeling judged, invisible or powerless.

Reflections on the West Sussex Community Brain Health & Carers Rights Day Event

By Matthew McKenzie – Carer & Carer Activist

On Thursday 20th November, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the Memory, Wellbeing and Brain Health event hosted at Broadfield Community Centre in Crawley. Organised by Carers Support West Sussex, the event formed part of Carers Rights Day, bringing together carers, professionals, community teams, and people living with dementia for a day of learning, connection, and support.

Although I couldn’t stay for the full programme due to travelling to another Carers Rights Day engagement later that afternoon, I was grateful to take part in the early sessions and witness the energy and compassion that shaped the whole day.

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