Cloudspotters’ Cafe - Bookclub Edition
Photo Credit: Stephen James Moore
Cloudspotters’ Café – the Bookclub Edition was first offered through Battersea Arts Centre in 2021/2022.
It runs as an online space for anyone navigating the difficulties posed by an on-going health challenge. Whether it’s a new challenge or one you’ve been navigating for some time, we aim to open up a creative space to gently pause, and consider alternatives to mainstream stories around ‘health’, ‘illness’, ‘capacity’ and ‘value’.
Using guided embodied exercises and creative writing, each session is loosely structured around a theme and a short text (like a poem or a short blog). These texts will help us challenge mainstream narratives of illness, and consider how we value ourselves beyond our diagnosis and beyond dominant models of late capitalism.
The aim is to create a safe space to connect with other people who ‘get it’, and to engage with art activities and texts that may hold, contain or shift our understanding of our experiences.
This is an relaxed online space, building on the Relaxed Venue methodology of BAC & Touretteshero (more on this below).
Participants have free access to a qualified counsellor.
PROJECT COLLABORATORS:
Stephanie Kempson
Steph lives with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and is developing a new interactive musical about CFS called Housebound.
Oliver Biggs
Olly Biggs is a UKCP accredited psychotherapist in training with lived experience of chronic illness.
He enjoys working with a broad range of clients but has a particular passion for supporting people who are living with chronic ill-health, as well as those who seek to support others; whether it be as carers, activists, or in a professional capacity.
Our Ambitions for the Space is that we all have the permission to participate in the way that works best for us, and to create a culture of us all taking good care of ourselves:
We encourage you to join in the most comfortable way possible. This might mean joining from bed or from the sofa. This might mean doodling, or knitting or walking around. All ways of participating are very welcome.
Rest, and participating by listening only, are celebrated in this space. Our presence is important even when we are quiet and resting.
Turn your camera off at any time.
Use the chat function whenever you prefer.
Visualisation is just as valid as movement (we are all masters at moving in stillness).
To leave when we need to and not feel bad about it or wait for the right moment. No assumptions will be made about why you have left - if this happens we will check in with you after the gathering, but you don’t need to worry about taking care of anyone else in the group.
We encourage us all to keep asking ourselves Am I comfortable? Can I do what I need to do to be comfortable in this space?
This is a confidential space where we ask that what is said in the space, stays in the space, and where we ask each other not to give unrequested advice about treatment or diagnosis.
Visit https://bac.org.uk/relaxed-venue/ for more information on BAC/Touretteshero’s Relaxed Venue method.
