Words around Wellbeing.

30/06/2025

Another festival update here - our writing competitions have been extended until July 21st. You can enter wherever you live, but there's free entry for Somerset and North Somerset residents :)
We look forward to reading your writing.

The organisers of Burnham-On-Sea Book Festival, which returns on September 6th, have issued a final call for entries to their writing competitions.

27/06/2025

We still need to campaign on behalf of those to come - but encouraging news in the short term...

With every email to your MP. With every share of a post. MPs felt the pressure and they stood against these changes. Thank you!

But this isn't the end - we're still worried about changes the government is pushing through for people who might need PIP in the future. We'll be urging MPs to vote against the bill on Tuesday. And this change alone doesn't make the benefits system fair and safe for people with mental health problems.

Together, we'll keep fighting for that too.

27/06/2025

Will post more details in due course. Robin Ince will be at Burnham Book Festival in September. Will you ? :)

Very excited to announce Robin Ince will be headlining this year's Book Festival with his book Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal - and he most certainly is, in a very warm, lovely and funny way.

Tickets will be on sale soon! We really hope to see you there! Watch this space!! SATURDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 7PM

25/04/2025

📢 Deadline extended until 18th May - you have one extra week to send us your flash fiction 📢

Our annual Young Writers' Flash Fiction Competition is currently open for entries from 10-18 year olds.

We are looking for inventive stories on the optional theme of 'Generation', with a maximum word count of 500 words in the 10-14 year age-category and 250 words in the 14-18 year age-category.

There are cash prizes in each category of £200, £100 and £50, plus the chance to be published and to perform your work at Exeter Custom House - ECQT.

Find out more here and get writing 👉🏻 bit.ly/QWFLASH25

23/04/2025

Coming soon!

“Seeing Bristol not only buzzing with an incredible diverse array of literary events for 10 days, but attended by such a varied mix of people and tastes, was inspiring. I hope Lyra has many more chances to grow and expand, as it is becoming a staple part to the city’s artistic calendar”

23/04/2025

It's the Lyra Bristol Poetry festival starting on Friday. Looks like it will be a great event - check out the programme for more info :)

“Seeing Bristol not only buzzing with an incredible diverse array of literary events for 10 days, but attended by such a varied mix of people and tastes, was inspiring. I hope Lyra has many more chances to grow and expand, as it is becoming a staple part to the city’s artistic calendar”

14/12/2024

One word, WOW!
Despite the weather, every chair was occupied with a man that wanted to talk and share what was in their heads and what has happened.
It would have been a standing room only after this!
Because of the Christmas break, we go again next Thursday 12th December of which will be the last one until Thursday 9th January 25.

We get told a lot that our posters are seen in various places from surgeries to staff rooms.
If you would like a poster, please pm your email address and we will email it over
We really do appreciate all your support as we do this voluntarily to help men move forward and offer a free service to those that want or need it.
Thanks 🙏👍🫶

23/11/2024

What's everyone reading at the moment?

I recently finished the Shirley Nolan book (it's an inspiring and heartbreaking read) about her son Anthony, and her fight to set up a bone marrow registry for people needing a bone marrow transplant, I for one am forever thankful she did.
I've now started 'The Glass Woman' by Alice Mcllroy after attending the book launch event with my mum run by Brendon Books in Taunton. It's a great and gripping read - and I think this afternoon might be just perfect for cosying up with it :)

23/11/2024

If you've been following my page, you'll know I recently started an MA in Creative Writing. I have then been very quiet :)
The start of term didn't quite go to plan (COVID, brief hospital stay and then cataract surgery) so writing and reading have been 'somewhat challenging' shall we say :) . Anyway I thought I'd just share some pictures of the lovely campus and classroom where I'm fortunate to study :)

03/10/2024