Art is part of the answer - not as a panacea, but because art has a way of going to the hurt place and cleaning it. Some wounds may never heal but they need not remain infected Jeanette Winterson writing about 9/11 in the Guardian, 13 September 2001

Three writers - Sacha Abercorn, Dannie Abse and Philip Gross - read from their work and discuss the power of writing to effect personal growth, health and well-being. This event is organised by Lapidus and The George Ewart Evans Centre for Storytelling at the University of Glamorgan

Dannie Abse, writer and poet, author of 'The Presence' about the death of his wife. He has now published a new book of poetry 'Two for Joy'.

Professor Philip Gross, winner of the T.S. Eliot Poetry Prize 2010 and chair of poetry at University of Glamorgan

Sacha Abercorn works to break down the sectarian divide in Ireland via creative writing projects in schools, where she is the Honorary Secretary for the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation

Hamish Fyfe, Chair for Arts in the Communities at the University of the Cardiff School of Cultural and Creative Industries, runs the George E Evans Centre for Storytelling in Cardiff - interlocutor for the event

Lapidus Cymru Autumn Conference Plans

We have an outline programme and list of potential speakers and will be held in Cardiff as the University of Glamorgan are offering us conference facilities. But we do have plans for events in the rest of the region as well to prevent it being Cardiff centric as happens with so many national initiatives in Wales. We are hoping to run workshops in north and mid Wales on a range of subjects that can respond to the interests of members living in those areas. All offers to run workshops gratefully received. We are also keen to build upon the excellent relationship with Sally Baker and her staff at Ty Newydd and make it the focus for events held in the north. Sally has been so supportive of our efforts and made us the very generous offer of discounts to Lapidus Cymru members

Blog on Bibliotherapy

Karen Harvey's Blog

Beginnings and Co-ordinators at Lapidus Cymru

Lapidus Cymru was born one stormy week in November 2009 in North Wales as a result of a fortuitous conjunction of the planets and some inspiring individuals. A group of us were attending a Writing in Healthcare course run by Graham Hartill and Victoria Field (names already very familiar to the Lapidus network) at Ty Newydd, the National Writers' Centre for Wales. We had 18 enthusiastic people in the room, some already members of Lapidus UK. Chrissie Evans agreed to be Chair, and Sylvia Perry the Secretary. David Steer, who was not present as he was appearing in the final of the John Tripp performance poetry prize in Newport, somehow became Treasurer.
With Chrissie in Cardiff, Sylvia in Brecon and David near Builth Wells we had three people close enough to be able to liaise and sign cheques etc, and we duly assembled at the bank in Brecon a couple of weeks later to get things started. Our thanks to Jane Reece of Lapidus UK for giving up her time to willingly to join us in Cardiff for our first meeting to talk through some of these ideas and offer her support.
Two things we felt we needed to stress from the outset: firstly the 'all Wales' nature of the group (and given the geography that is a big challenge). We aim to break this down by creating sub groups of north and south (and maybe even mid Wales as we acquire more members) and network amongst ourselves in those groups as well as on a regional basis. Secondly we felt we need to raise the profile of Lapidus in Wales after too many people responded to our news by saying theyÕd never heard of it. So an ambitious approach was adopted from the outset and as a result we have made real headway in several areas

Writing Courses

listings are of writing courses with a therapeutic element

Courses at Ty Newydd, the National Writers' Centre for Wales
Llanystumdwy, Criccieth, Gwynedd LL52 0LW

Ty Newydd

Working from Experience - the practice of writing in healthcare with Victoria Field and Graham Hartill, March 15th - 19th 2010
This course will look at how the process of creative writing can promote health and wellbeing. Participants will be encouraged to bring examples from their own writing and practice to share and we will look at how to plan and execute a successful Writing in Health and Social Care project. The course is open to anyone with experience or interest in using creative writing with groups and individuals in health, social care or community settings, and could be used as a follow-up to the popular Ty Newydd introductory Writing in Health and Social Care course