1x 2.5 hour session, materials included

Have you ever pondered the warm feeling of fulfilment you experience after reading? Why you might return to the same book, over and over again? Or the sense of comfort you only tend to find within imaginary, fictional worlds?

This session will draw on the science of bibliotherapy to allow you to explore the amazing wellbeing benefits of reading, particularly works of short fiction. We will enjoy some shared reading as a group, and discuss how these works move, inspire, and heal us, before strategising ways to develop a healthy and effective reading habit.

Please note this session is not a counselling session, nor is the facilitator a qualified counsellor.

You may also enjoy the accompanying course Words for Wellness: Writing.

1x 2.5 hour session, materials included

In our immensely accelerated and digitalised world, many people are now turning to the art of journalling and mindfulness writing to pause, breathe and process life. Daily writing can make time slow down and allow us to appreciate the smallest of moments; it can act as a grounding device, an escape, or a way of cleansing the mind.

In this group session, you will try out a variety of writing exercises designed to benefit your mental health in a supportive and relaxed space. We will respond to prompts, share our work with each other (but no pressure!), and practice different journalling approaches.

You may also enjoy the accompanying course Words for Wellness: Reading.

1x 3 hour session, materials included

Plato said that poetry is nearer to truth than history. Across centuries, poetry has pushed the limits of language, allowed us to find beauty in everyday life, and access unchartered parts of ourselves.

As a group, we will enjoy the enriching benefits of a variety of poetry, from the haiku to free verse, and spend time with several poems. We will discuss how words are carefully arranged and manipulated for effect, and how the poem’s elements combine to make a unique, moving whole.

You will then try your hand at writing and sharing your own poem in a supportive and relaxed space, using artistic techniques such as blackout and found poetry.

3x 2 hour sessions, materials included

The British Southwest is home to some of the most intriguing, spooky and enduring legends. From the Hairy Hands of Dartmoor to the Merry Maidens Stone Circle in Penzance, local folklore has persisted across generations and continues to seize our curiosity.

Spend three sessions studying a variety of myths and legends across Devon and Cornwall. Read accounts from local people, examine archive material and the history behind the tale. We will explore how folktales have shaped and remain at the heart of local communities, and vice versa.

You will read, research and discuss in a friendly and supportive group space. Bringing a laptop or device on which to research is recommended.