What We Made, Together (Collective poem co-written by service users and Mental Health Team for Mental Health Awareness Week 2025)

Here is a group poem co-written by the Mental Health Team and all of the service users who participated in our activities during Mental Health Awareness week in and out of drop-in. The larger words and phrases all came from them. 

The room felt warm,
the lights aglow,
but who could I trust,
how would I know?

The stories I carry,
are heavy, sad,
I need to talk to someone,
so I won’t feel so bad.

A woman offers a cup of tea,
some biscuits too,
as she gives me a smile,
and tells me what she can do.

She doesn’t ask me questions,
it’s like she already knows,
she seems to understand,
I need to trust someone before I talk about my woes.

She takes my information,
she asks for my consent,
she offers me practical support first,
and I nervously accept.

I tell her I’m anxious, depressed,
I feel completely alone,
she reminds me my feelings are valid,
they are my very own.

I start to tear up,
as I look around the room,
at the woman talking and laughing,
and she says “you’ll feel that comfortable here soon”.

She continues, “You are not a stranger here…
How could you be?
Your heart beats like mine, you have hopes just like me,
You are just as important to our community”.

Four weeks go by,
I now get lots of support,
From weekly 1:1 sessions, ESOL, and Art,
All of these have made me feel restored.

This room isn’t just a room,
It’s a place to belong,
It’s a sense of identity,
A place to grow and transform.

Everyone needs a space,
Where they feel welcome and valued,
Especially in a climate that wants to blame,
And exclude.

So join us in making spaces,
Where fellow humans feel safe,
“Migrants are welcome here” –
Shout it loudly –
Give us faith!