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.
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.
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.
“Caring feels like towels.” “Smells like sweat.” “Sounds like silence.” These are not lines from a published anthology, but heartfelt expressions from unpaid carers who meet every month in a quiet online space to write, reflect, and reconnect—through poetry.
Welcome to the Ealing Carers Poetry Workshop, an online community gathering for carers, hosted on the last Friday of each month at 6 PM. It’s free, friendly, and, for many, deeply healing.
Why Poetry? Why Now?
For unpaid carers, life is often consumed by routines, responsibilities, and quiet sacrifices. There’s little time to stop and process the emotional weight of the role, let alone articulate it. That’s where poetry comes in.
Poetry doesn’t demand polished grammar or clever rhymes. It simply asks: What do you feel? And from that question, remarkable truths begin to emerge.
In a recent session, one carer described how “caring tastes like sweet and sour”—a vivid metaphor for the moments of tenderness mixed with exhaustion, patience, and the daily challenge of giving so much of oneself.
Another shared, “Caring feels like a balloon… slowly inflating until it might burst.” The group nodded. They understood. No further explanation needed.
More Than Words
Each workshop is a gentle hour of guided prompts, group sharing (if you feel like it), and poetic reflection. Some come to listen. Some come to write. All leave feeling a little more grounded, and a little less alone.
Here’s what you can expect:
Creative prompts to help spark inspiration
No pressure to share if you’re not ready
A safe, confidential space led with empathy
A supportive community that “gets” the highs and lows of caring
Gentle encouragement to save and revisit your poetry as a personal record
One participant put it perfectly:
“You don’t have to be a poet. You just need to be willing to put words to what you feel.”
Healing Through Expression
We often talk about self-care for carers, poetry is one powerful, practical form. It’s a creative release that helps untangle emotions that don’t have easy answers. It can reflect joy, grief, humour, fatigue, hope. It can be messy. It can be raw. But above all, it’s yours.
As the facilitator beautifully says,
“Poetry holds up a mirror. What you see in it is up to you.”
For many carers, this monthly workshop has become a lifeline. A moment of peace. A reminder that their experiences matter.
If you are an unpaid carer, then Join Us – You Are Welcome
Whether you’re new to writing or simply curious, we invite you to take an hour for yourself.
🗓️ When: Last Friday of every month 🕕 Time: 6:00 PM (UK time) 🌐 Where: Online – attend from the comfort of your own home 🎟️ Reserve your free place here: 👉 Ealing Carers Poetry Workshop – Eventbrite
Grab a notebook. Pour a cup of tea. Come write with us.
