My classes involve a mixture of discovering poetry in its diverse forms and responding to writing exercises. All activities have the aim of expanding the student's personal relationship with this incredible art form and developing their power to self-express creatively. We will look at how poetry continues to challenge the status quo and can act as a space for connection, emotional healing and rebirth in climates of limitation and struggle. I am passionate about teaching poetry writing because I have seen how beneficial the sharing and crafting of poetry is for mental health; I want to bring this passion into people's lives and am as excited to learn from each student's insights and creations as I am to impart knowledge and feedback. I am an experienced tutor and published poet with a first-class honours degree in English and Spanish from Durham University. My anthology "Poems of Hope", on the subject of mental health, was published in 2019 to fundraise for Mind UK. I am currently studying part-time postgraduate course in teaching creative writing with Cambridge University to complement writing and teaching. I have 5+ years of experience tutoring English and have devised and delivered poetry workshops for vulnerable adults as well as tutored creative writing throughout the pandemic. I have also spent a year working with SEN students in secondary education as a teaching assistant. I welcome teenagers and adults who identify as neurodivergent, disabled or struggling with mental health. I hope to hear from you and look forward to journeying into poetry together.