Amanda White: Creative practitioner specialising in poetry

I am a writer (poetry, childrens, travel and film) who has been working in arts for health for the last fourteen years on diverse projects within education, healthcare, corporate and community environments.  My first project was to devise an arts programme for a care home working with Arts for Health Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.   My last project was with ArtsWell (https://arts-well.com) and St Petrocs a charity in Cornwall aiming to eradicate homelessness, alongside three other writers we ran projects in different locations and I worked with a group of men who had experienced homelessness in Penzance.  The poetry that was produced was put into a poetry book called STONES IN OUR HANDS sold to raise money for St Petrocs. (https://stpetrocs.org.uk/news/stones-in-our-hands/). I have been involved in delivering creative activity training to volunteers working in hospitals, care homes and with people experiencing dementia. When we went into lockdown I wanted to create a way for people to connect and create with an accessible, fun and engaging format.  Springing from a popular workshop 'Are You a Tree or a Leaf? which culminates in a haiku I set up THE DAILY HAIKU and in seven weeks we now have over 1600 members and lots of positive feedback that focuses on its wellbeing benefits.  Alongside posting haikus that respond to daily themes voted on and added by members, there is also the chance to post photographs, videos, artwork and music.  I have been interviewed on BBC Radio Cornwall, The Writers Study Group and featured by ArtsWell.   Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/THEDAILYHAIKU/