Tag Archives: creative expression

Becoming a Human Book at the DUALITY Event – The Carer They Didn’t See

By Matthew McKenzie – Carer Activist and Carer Advocate

On 8 September 2026, I had the honour of attending the DUALITY event at King’s College London, held at Bush House.

The event was a research and public/community engagement event connected to the INTERCEPTION study, based in King’s Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, within the School of Global Affairs / Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy.

There was a packed agenda, which I have shown below.

  • Registration, refreshments and photo exhibition — Attendees arrived, had refreshments and had an opportunity to look around the community photography exhibition.
  • Welcome and introduction to DUALITY — The organisers introduced the event and its focus on ageing, ethnicity, health and experiences of living with multiple long-term conditions.
  • Research Panel: Ethnicity, Ageing and Health — Researchers discussed work exploring inequalities and experiences at the intersection of ethnicity, ageing, health and multiple long-term conditions.
  • King’s Sport & Wellness energiser — Attendees were invited to take part in accessible seated stretches and movement exercises.
  • Human Library — Attendees could “borrow” Living Books for short conversations, hearing personal stories intended to build understanding, foster empathy and challenge assumptions. My Living Book was “The Carer They Didn’t See.”
  • Community information booths — Organisations and community representatives provided information and resources. This was also where I supported the Carers UK stall.
  • DUALITY Photography Exhibition — Photographs used visual storytelling to explore support, health, ageing and lived experience. My photograph “The Carer They Didn’t See” was included in the exhibition.
  • Photography Competition Awards — Winners of the DUALITY Photography Competition were announced, with “The Carer They Didn’t See” selected as one of the winning entries.
  • Creative performance — The programme included a creative lived-experience performance exploring identity, Caribbean heritage, racism, family, memory and culture.
  • Keeping Fit with Multiple Long-Term Conditions — This discussion brought professional and lived-experience perspectives together to explore chronic conditions, exercise, confidence and wellbeing.
  • Dinner and networking — The evening concluded with food and an opportunity for attendees, researchers, community groups and people with lived experience to connect.

This was quite a different event for me. I have attended many conferences, workshops and involvement events over the years as an unpaid carer, carer advocate and speaker. This time, however, I wasn’t simply attending or presenting.

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2nd Voices & Verses – PCREF Poetry Event

By Matthew McKenzie – Cygnet PCREF Carer Lead & Carer Ambassador

Cygnet PCREF Carer Lead & Carer Ambassador

On 4 August 2026, unpaid carers, professionals and people with lived experience came together at Cygnet Churchill for the second Voices & Verses Carers Poetry Event. The purpose of the afternoon was not simply to read poetry, but to create a safe space where carers could express experiences that are often overlooked within mental health services.

The event formed part of Cygnet’s ongoing commitment to the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) by exploring how creativity, culture and storytelling can strengthen co-production and improve relationships between carers and services.

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South West London Mental Health carers group update for June 2025

A Space to Share, a Space to Be Heard

The session opened with updates and heartfelt check-ins. One of our carer members, shared a deeply personal and challenging situation regarding her loved ones declining mental and physical health. Despite strained family dynamics and the emotional burden of caring, a carer is courageously advocating for her loved one and seeking support through nursing services and assessments.

Peer Support: Insights from Experience

Long-time members offered valuable perspectives from their own journeys. A carer shared their struggle supporting individuals, which showed a stark reminder of the emotional and logistical toll caring can take. Another carer encouraged fellow carers to prioritise their own well-being, even in small ways a cup of tea, a short walk, a moment to breathe.

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Lewisham, Southwark & Lambeth Mental Health carer forum – June 2025 update

About the Forum:
The Lewisham, Lambeth & Southwark Carers Forum is a collaborative online space that brings together unpaid carers, carer leads, mental health professionals, and support organizations to share experiences, raise concerns, and influence change. Focused primarily on mental health caregiving, the forum serves as a platform for peer support, policy updates, training insights, and service development. Led by carer advocate Matthew McKenzie, the group fosters empowerment through regular discussions, creative expression, and co-produced solutions, ensuring carers’ voices are heard across local systems and beyond.

Carers Week Collaboration Discussion

The meeting began with introductions from Matthew McKenzie, who leads a merged online carers group, and other participants including Yvonne, a carers navigator at Southwark Carers, and Margaret, a carer representative with the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The group discussed Carers Week activities and their various roles in supporting carers across different organizations. Karen Hooper, connected with the Lambeth Living Well Collaborative, while Lee Roach, the carers lead for South London & Maudsley in Lambeth, shared his involvement with the Trustwide Family and Carers Committee.

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Voices of Mental Health Carers: Poetry & Stories

The Power of Poetry and Storytelling in the Lives of Carers

Caring for a loved one with mental health challenges or chronic illness is a journey marked by both hardship and hope. Too often, the voices of carers those who provide unpaid, tireless support are overlooked in the broader conversation about health and wellbeing. Yet, as this moving gathering of carers and poets reveals, storytelling and poetry can be transformative tools for connection, healing, and advocacy. So it was an honour to host our first poetry event at Cygnet Churchill for the 13th of June during Carers Week 2025

This Blog explores the themes, experiences, and creative expressions shared by carers, drawing from a vibrant community event centered on poetry, storytelling, and the lived realities of those who care. Through their words, we gain insight into the emotional landscape of caring, the challenges faced, and the resilience that emerges when stories are shared.

To watch the performance, please view the video below.

Giving Carers a Voice: The Motivation Behind the Book

The host of the event was myself (Matthew McKenzie), as a prolific author and advocate, where I have dedicated my eighth book to amplifying the voices of mental health carers. For me, books are more than just a means of communication they are a way to reach people who might otherwise remain unheard.

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