Lapidus Regional Groups

Lapidus HOT (Humber to Tweed) is a Lapidus group based in the North East of England.

For over a decade, our dedicated group of writers has gathered in Scarborough and the surrounding areas, pausing only during the pandemic. We have a core group of 10 regular attendees, with an additional 5–10 members joining less frequently. Each of us takes turns facilitating sessions, and we warmly welcome new members to join us in exploring writing as a means to soothe our soul and attend to social injustices.

During 2019–2020, we transitioned to meeting online and were excited to host our first in-person gathering in November 2021.

Our group fosters a supportive environment, encouraging collaboration and partnerships in writing and wellbeing. Our leadership team includes Hilary Jenkins as Chair, Sue Spencer as Secretary, and Sally Jubb as Treasurer.

Are you interesting in research in the field of writing for wellbeing? The Lapidus Living Research Community meets monthly via Zoom to discuss all things research, with a focus on qualitative research theory and methods. Everyone is welcome, regardless of research experience.

One of our members Jacki McCartney offered this definition of ‘living research’: An active, ongoing curiosity and openness to learn.

Our meeting takes place every two months, usually on the last Saturday of the month, from 1 pm to 3.30 pm. This may change if there is another event on this date which many of our regulars wish to attend . Members pay five pounds, non members ten pounds, the first meeting for non members is free.

Members enjoy catching up, exchanging news and information, sharing ideas and news of upcoming events .

We usually have a guest speaker. This can be an author / poet who has written a book which members are interested to hear more about ; someone who is willing to facilitate a workshop based on writing / well being or a member of the group who is willing to share their area of expertise.

Lapidus Scotland is a lively group of bibliotherapy practitioners who hold regular events and work in a variety of settings, including Maggie’s cancer centres, hospitals, schools, prisons and charities. There is a very comprehensive website containing dozens of practical articles about running a writing for wellbeing group or event.

The Wordzels are a South West UK rural regional Lapidus group which serves the towns and villages outside of Bristol. Current members come from Ilminster, Salisbury, Newbury, Bath, Frome, Bradford-on-Avon, Melksham.

We meet on the first Sunday of every other month (Jan, March, May, July, Sept, Nov) from 11am, to 4pm.

This is a relatively new group grown from a need to serve Lapidus members living outside the city of Bristol. We meet to write and share and reflect and eat a delicious shared lunch. The group is developing successfully in to having a co-facilitated arrangement and, with our shared understanding of the W4W process, has a very safe, deep and potent quality already. Different members step forward to arrange the admin for each gathering. We hold the structure and space between using our known and beneficial format. Anyone can offer warm-ups or creative writing prompts or volunteer to hold the space and the structure on the day, by arrangement with that day’s host. The afternoon has until now been used for a ‘peer surgery’ which benefits all who take part. We are looking into venues in Nunney and Malmsbury, alternated, to serve our catchment.