In today’s blog, we’re shining a light on one of Kyra’s longest-running and most loved groups—our Poetry Group. We’ll be sharing how it started, how it’s grown, and the incredible impact it’s had on the women who attend.
You’ll also get to know Heather, a long-time member whose journey shows just how powerful poetry can be for building confidence, processing the past, and finding your voice.
Heather’s Story
When Heather first came to Kyra, she described needing to be ‘forced through the door.’ Like many women who’ve experienced trauma, she came to Kyra feeling emotionally exhausted, unsure, and looking for somewhere to feel understood. Heather started with our courses that focus on surviving domestic abuse, and from there, she found our Poetry Group.
That was eight years ago. Since then, Heather’s poetry has spanned the full spectrum: short and sharp haikus, light-hearted poems that make the group laugh, and deeply moving work shaped by her own experiences. Today, Heather is confident, engaging, and full of life—and she credits much of that transformation to the power of writing and being heard.
One moment that stuck with her was when Kyra’s CEO, Ira, joined a poetry session and read aloud from her own published collection—in both English and her native language. For Heather, hearing Ira’s voice in her mother tongue, Serbo-Croat, brought a whole new depth to the group’s sense of connection and shared humanity.
Heather’s Poetry
If you’d like to hear directly from Heather, she’s kindly shared one of her poems about how Kyra has supported her over the years.
You can watch the video below to see her perform the piece in her own words—a powerful reminder of how creativity and community can help us heal.
If you’d like to hear more from Heather, you can also watch her read a powerful poem she wrote about her past experiences of domestic abuse—a moving piece that reflects her journey and resilience.
A Decade of Words and Wellbeing
Our Poetry Group has been running for more than 10 years. It began with our lovely Ann, who hosted monthly in-person poetry lunches. Then, during the pandemic in 2020, the group moved online, with Glynis taking the lead over Zoom.
The move made the group more accessible, especially for women with mobility issues or those who’d relocated from York but still wanted to stay connected.
They’ve also contributed to two wonderful anthologies. The Kyra Covid Capsule was a collaborative project that included poetry and stories from members, volunteers, and staff, capturing the shared experiences of lockdown. Reflections, meanwhile, was created solely by the Poetry and Art groups—a powerful, stand-alone showcase of creativity and resilience from the group itself.
The Kyra Poetry Group have published multiple poetry volumes
Poetry has long played a powerful role in mental health. A recent study found that during the pandemic, reading and writing poetry helped reduce feelings of loneliness and anxiety, while 24% of participants said it helped them better cope with life’s challenges.
That’s something we’ve seen first-hand at Kyra: poetry fosters confidence, creativity, and connection.
How You Can Help
At Kyra, we believe poetry is more than just words on a page—it’s a pathway to healing, self-expression, and empowerment. If you’re interested in joining our fortnightly poetry group, email glynis@kyra.org.uk to find out more.
Or if you’d like to help us continue running transformative groups like this, you can support Kyra by donating or volunteering. Your support ensures more women can access the kind of creativity, community, and healing that makes all the difference.
