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Latest News : See our latest POM - Poem of the Month
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 We have restarted and relaunched our Survivors' Poetry Forum. Please Click Here to visit and sign up. |
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 Welcome to survivorspoetry.com
Welcome to 2009, and this unique organisation. For those of you who know us, that goes without saying. But to new readers, it all began when four poets in a visionary moment founded Survivors' back in 1991, as 'promoting poetry by those who have survived the mental healrh system'. There's been nothing like it before or since, and it has despite the odds kept going, attracting acclaim and support. It has also attracted an amazingly loyal staff, whose own vision has led to intiatives within the organisation and a determination to keep going in the midst of no funds. When I was taken ill towards the end of last year for two months, with a septic eye abrasion that left me Miltonically blind listening to - yes, Milton, the staff and Board here forged ahead with some of the things I'm meant to do, in addition to their own remits: fund-raisers and members of the Arts Council were pretty impressed. I was told to stop worrying. It's enough to make you wonder what Directors are for; but I was still welcomed back.
It was in December 2007 that the Arts Council restored Regularly Funded Organisation (RFO) status to us from April '08. We were thrilled with this recognition, naturally. As Director, I've maintained close contact with ACE London. Their personnel have been unfailingly helpful, including being remarkably understanding over bouts of illness that made one key report very late. But we crucially need funds for both office and staff. ACE know this. Were looking to several other organisations. It's due to the Esmee Fairbairn organisation that we've prospered recently, and the John Ellerman before that. Much of what we do is centred here, with our mentoring. We'd like to emphasise our events profile far more, something always central to SP. It still continues at the Poetry Cafe in Betterton street Covent Garden, second Thursday of the month. In North London, Maggie's Bar fulfils a different kind of poetry night. Keep looking out for our latest postings. Because of a move and the illness mentioned above, I've been away from the Forum recently, but will return soon. It's an amazingly supportive place with all kinds of discussion, and 113 signed-up poets. Do take a look at it. Now take a look at the latest issue - newly designed electronic pdf of Poetry Express (PE), currently the only mode it can be read in. We had hoped to change this, of course, with a full re-launch in 2009/10. But the overwhelming number of downloads - 10,000 is a modest projection, it's more likely to be 12,000 - we've far exceeded our original distribution figures. Tell us what your experience has been. Did you find it fairly easy to find us? Do you enjoy the downloads? Find out about our Mentoring Scheme by clicking the link on the left. A new batch will be announced soon. This has continued since 2005 and despite everything, even the economic down-turn, we have more mentees than ever. This and the Vale House Project are just two things spearheaded by members of staff and we hope to make this permanent. If that isn't too hubtristic, we'd like to be around for as long as poetry and survivors need us. In these times, I can think of no better response to the time-fixated society around the credit-crunch. Art thrives when commerical worlds don't. But it can thrive when that world takes an enlightened view of it. We still need whatever can buy us time, to give time back to all of you, in what I hope enriches you here. Simon Jenner
Banner image by Colin Hambrook - http://disabilityarts.org/site |
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