We Are All Storytellers<\/strong>, a pilot wellbeing initiative for University of Manchester staff, has received outstanding feedback from participants. Run by the School of Health Sciences, a mixed cohort of 21 staff, faculty and post-graduate students, split into two groups, took part in a short series of two-hour workshops. Writers\/co-facilitators Tara Guha and Rebecca Hurst<\/strong> introduced techniques such as free writing to help participants bypass internal blocks and to ponder personal experiences, from childhood through to Covid. There was plenty of space for conversation and reflection, for reading work aloud and offering feedback to others, and \u2013 not forgetting physical wellbeing \u2013 for food and drink.<\/p>\n Some participants were international post-graduates, whose experience of studying in the UK has been impacted by the pandemic. Some were parents who spent the lockdowns juggling both teaching and working. Some considered writing an essential, and not always pleasurable, aspect of their work life. What drew everyone together was a stated commitment to improving their health and well-being, a desire to learn new skills and find a creative outlet for their ideas, and the opportunity to take some time for themselves.<\/p>\n \n We used several methods to evaluate people\u2019s experience, including discussion, a wall of post-it notes, a collaborative group piece and, finally, a more traditional evaluation form. On the numbers front, we were delighted that that:<\/p>\n 100% of participants enjoyed the opportunity for self-expression<\/strong><\/p>\n 100% of participants had their expectations met<\/strong><\/p>\n 100% of participants would recommend the course<\/strong><\/p>\n \n But it was the qualitative feedback that really stood out:<\/p>\n \u2018I’m really impressed by how much I got out of these sessions in such a short space of time. I found them very healing and transformative for my wellbeing.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018\u2026to have that space set aside, with wonderful people structuring and facilitating the session, gave me the space and direction I need to attempt something like this.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Several participants found the workshops a powerful way of connecting with others:<\/p>\n \u2018For the first time in 3 years I have connected with people without talking about their PhD\/jobs!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t know anyone here but I have been offered the opportunity to have a window into each of their lives. Some of the views were fantastic \u2013 a rich tapestry of sights, sounds and rituals, from so many parts of the world, woven together with a simple prompt or technique.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n One unexpected benefit that emerged repeatedly was how creative writing and free-writing techniques could help with academic writing:<\/p>\n \u2018This experience is a tool that leads me to transferable skills. For instance, I can use free writing to deal with academic paper writing when I don\u2019t know where and how to start.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018The \u201cfree-writing\u201d exercise is surprisingly helpful for academic writing.’<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Looking to the future, there is much to build on. The workshops were booked up within a day of being advertised, demonstrating the demand. A sharing event where people would perform their work unfortunately had to be cancelled due to illness etc, which left some people disappointed, although others didn\u2019t feel ready to perform their work after two workshops. Given that \u2018hearing others read their work aloud\u2019 was listed as a highlight by 75% of respondents, it would seem important to incorporate this sharing element, with proper support and communication, in any ongoing development of this project. An encouraging 75% of participants also said that they would be interested in an ongoing writing peer support group, with regular facilitator input. As one person told us in the sessions:<\/p>\n \u2018This is the best thing that\u2019s happened to me in my PhD.\u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Tara Guha<\/strong> is a prize-winning author and mental health practitioner. Her first novel, Untouchable Things, won the Luke Bitmead Bursary and her second won the 2019 Northern Writers\u2019 Award for work in progress. Tara works part-time at Healthy Minds in West Yorkshire, delivering creative approaches to emotional wellbeing for adults, children and young people. As a freelancer she harnesses her passion for writing to facilitate the exploration and expression of self in safe, supportive workshop settings. Her work is rooted in the belief that we are all storytellers and can use story to help us make sense of the world and ourselves.<\/p>\n Rebecca Hurst<\/strong> is a writer, opera-maker and illustrator based in Greater Manchester. Her work has appeared in various magazines and anthologies\u2014including Carcanet\u2019s New Poetries VIII\u2014and she is the author of a poetry pamphlet, The Fox\u2019s Wedding (Emma Press, 2022). Rebecca has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Manchester, and is a postdoctoral fellow in the university\u2019s Centre for New Writing. Rebecca is co-founder of the Voicings Collective, an ensemble that devises new music theatre, and teaches creative writing in schools, universities, museums, and the community.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=”off” prev_text=”Previous” next_text=”Next” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ locked=”on”][\/et_pb_post_nav][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”3.17.6″ locked=”on”][\/et_pb_comments][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related posts” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ locked=”on”]<\/p>\n\n
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