What they said
Prison Workshops:
When it comes to writing, she’s the dog’s bollocks!
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed it this morning – It was really brilliant. You’re fantastic, you are, really inspiring. One of the best days of my life, best for a long time – just experimenting with words. It’s freedom within prison. Now I just can’t stop writing.
Any plant has the potential to bloom, but they need a good gardener; they need to be fed and pruned, and that’s what you do. You bring out the best in people.
I like to be pushed, and you really push us. It’s the only way to develop.
Not wanting to put you on a pedestal, but you know this is the best part of the week, don’t you? Even if you’re feeling down, this makes you feel better.
You’ve opened doors I thought I’d never open into rooms I never thought I’d see. I see
you as my mentor.
Top class, I’ve really learned a lot, about description and editing particularly. It’s been great to discover ways of putting down on paper the things that are flying round in your head. You’ve given us our own set of keys – you’re our mentor and our guru!
Arts on Prescription:
For two hours a week, I'm not depressed
I cannot tell you enough how much I am enjoying your class. You are such an engaging, charismatic, knowledgeable teacher with a wicked sense of humour. I am so glad I got to be part of your little gang of poets. We’re all so different and mismatched in many ways that we are like a group banded together in a heist film. Thank you!
It has given me somewhere to express myself. I never knew I had such a vivid imagination. It makes me feel good about myself, and I enjoy the interaction between us all. I’ve looked forward to it every week. It has been in fact the highlight of my week since I started. I’ve enjoyed learning new things. We are now going to start our own writing group as a result of this course.
This course is my spiritual beefburger.
Thanks so much for the session today. I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed these sessions... they have been not only therapeutic and a real help for my depression but something that I could really get my teeth into and learn more about writing and improve my skills. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.. it's been wonderful. I feel very sad that today was the last one. It also helped have such a great teacher! Truly very grateful.
…Brenda’s joyful teaching and her way of quietly building us fragile warriors back up without us even noticing. … to be taught by such an excellent teacher, treated with respect and being made to feel like you are a worthwhile person with something to contribute to the world. Thanks to Brenda I have embarked on a new and different road, but one that I know will ultimately be not just rewarding, but hopefully bring me back into society once more.