This week a new anthology of poems by writers recovering from addiction was launched at the National Centre for Writing (NCW) at Dragon Hall in Norwich.
Anonymous Memoirs is a partnership project between NCW and the Matthew Project, a charity supporting children and adults across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex with issues around substance misuse and wellbeing.
The six-month project was designed to give participants in addiction recovery the opportunity to explore their voices through the written word, via a series of creative writing workshops led by local writers Lewis Buxton and Margaret Meyer, as part of a recovery programme. The programme culminated in a special anthology launch event at Dragon Hall on Monday afternoon.
Mark, a participant on the programme, said:
‘The Matthew Project has been fantastic. Not only has it got me in a group environment, it’s got me looking at myself and my different behaviours. It was a blessing to realise that I had all these people who are willing to help me.
‘Today I read out a poem by a guy called Cameron. In my twenties I was crippled with anxiety. Coming into my forties and now being clean and sober, I’ve recognised the need to step out of my comfort zone. Allowing me to get better and to grow. When coming here today…I didn’t allow it to eat me up like I would have done years ago. It’s the first time I’ve done something like this in twenty years.’
The participating writers took to the stage with their finalised poems, choosing to read their own or work by a friend from within the group. In attendance were their family and friends, and programme partners.
Andy Sexton, CEO of the Matthew Project said:
‘This partnership between the National Centre for Writing and the Matthew Project, funded by Broadland Meridian, has been incredibly important in helping build resilience in people in recovery. The process of writing, being published and being able to read aloud their work to an audience has been powerful. It enabled the participants to not only express their feelings about their past and current situations but helped them to look beyond the past to a stronger future.’
Hannah Garrard, Learning & Participation Manager at NCW said:
‘Partnering with the Matthew Project to bring creative writing into their recovery programme has been an inspiring experience for all involved. We learned a huge amount about how to facilitate a creative space for those in addiction recovery and learned equally as much from the writers who took part-so thank you to them for being so open and up for the challenge.’
Additional support for the project was provided by Broadland Meridian Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, and Arts Council England.
A New Me Karen
New home, new road new life, new leaf new page for me to place my feet.
New dreams, new hopes new thoughts, new goals or are they old just like ‘new’ Gold?
Gleaming, polished and sparkling, they’re fitting like the perfect ring.
They’ve swept me up and pulled me in. Right here, right now my life begins.
Untitled Ashley
One of the most amazing things is life: the ups and downs the struggles, the strife. One life starts, another ends but life carries on, it curves round the bends. One of the most amazing things is the rain how it cleans everything, this dust, the pollution,
the air that we breathe, the smog that we see, the microbes we don’t, pulling them down, Trapped in a boat.
The rain is amazing, keeping me afloat
As I lay here amazing, in a boat.
Where am I from? Stephen
I’m from brothers and sisters that didn’t get on, I’m from having sex for the first time in the underpass And feeling like a million dollars. I’m from shamelessly stealing other people’s ideas, And passing them off as my own. I’m from a day of civil disobedience that lasted for ever. I’m from being scared at night on the way home. I’m from peace plans that involved guns and roses. I’m from hand-me-downs that I was proud to wear.