‘The conference will provide us with shelter – somewhere for pilgrims to huddle in a storm’

The ebptc organising team is delighted that Welsh poet, spoken word performer and therapeutic writing facilitator Mel Perry has accepted an invitation to be a keynote speaker at our event in October.  Mel, who is chair of Lapidus International, a partner host of the event, is also playing a key role in the coordination of our event in Canterbury. 

Mel came to the field of therapeutic writing after a career in public health and substance misuse services and believes this to be an essential part of her journey into poetry and therapeutic writing.

‘I am honoured, if somewhat nervous, to be invited to share the platform as a keynote speaker for the conference.  Many of us in this practice are informed and grounded  by our own personal life experiences.  It becomes an essential piece of kit on our journeys with others as we gently facilitate participants'  personal reflection, sharing and insights,’ she says.

‘I hope to share a little of my story, layer it with my current therapeutic writing activity and celebrate more widely the variety and impact of this work.’

Mel first found comfort in poetry when she was director of alcohol and drug service Prism in Carmarthen in Wales, a role that she held for 17 years and which grew increasingly challenging:

 ‘I found myself taking poetry books to work with me. I would stand by the window of my office first thing in the morning and read poems by the likes of Gillian Clarke or Michael Longley – they felt like psalms or prayers --  as a way of settling myself for the day.’

A series of life events meant an abrupt end to her role coinciding with the death of her mother and uncle in close succession. ‘We lost the tender for the drug and alcohol service. ‘My mother died, the organisation that I had led for 17 years was obliterated and I was made redundant.. I went home, went to bed and didn’t go back to work.’

Mel says she was saved by an international literature residency in Sweden arranged by the arts organisation Kultivera, which opened up a new world of possibilities  for her in terms of her own personal writing and how it can be used with others. ‘I often say that I went to Sweden as a public health practitioner who wrote a bit and came back as a writer who worked for Public Health Wales,’ she says.

In 2016 Mel embarked on the MSc in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes at the Metanoia Institute just a few days after the death of her father.  The course set her on a continuing journey of self-exploration: ‘One of the great things I got from the course was that it offered an opportunity to mine ourselves  for material and that is what I think is unique. It changed me in the sense that I can recognise myself now and reflect – I found my reflexive voice.’

Her research project exploring the power of spoken word poetry with women survivors of domestic abuse was published as an audio piece in the Lapidus international research journal LIRIC.

Mel has a firm belief in the potential of poetry to change lives and facilitates regular groups as well as writing her own poetry.  Her third collection Mineral Wealth, a poetic response to her relationship with her unmet grandmother and an associated family secret, will be published in November by Broken Sleep books.

‘Poems offer a chance to reflect quite deeply, and can unlock things very quickly. When there is a poem that has concrete images that can represent joy, grief, trauma, regret and people can experience themselves through that, it’s like seeing the light bulb come on…And when we read it out loud its’ engaging different senses which offers different keys or ways into ourselves.’ 

Mel attended the first two European Biblio-poetry conferences and is very much looking forward to the Canterbury event as a means of connection between other cultures, communities and languages and as an opportunity to share our common humanity. 

‘Experiencing our differences is enriching and informs our own practice. Given the precarious nature of the world this seems more and more important each time we meet. The conference provides us with shelter, somewhere for us to huddle together in a storm as pilgrims would. There is a realisation in that we are not alone.’

The four C’s at the heart of our conference

We’re thrilled by the early buzz surrounding the third European/Biblio Poetry Conference—we’ve started receiving proposals for workshops and presentations and social media is alive with interest from across Europe and further afield.

Our guiding principles for the event are the four C’s: communication, connection, collaboration, and companionship. We want these values to underpin not only the conference itself, but also the lead-up and legacy—helping to build the vibrant, supportive community that was initiated in Budapest in Hungary in 2024 and Jyväskylä in Finland in 2025.

If you’re thinking of joining us in Canterbury this October, do connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn and become part of the growing dialogue among fellow attendees.

On Facebook we’re inviting attendees to share something about themselves: What’s your story? What will you be bringing with you to Canterbury? These personal tales spark early connections, building a sense of community and set the stage for interactions at the conference.

Collaboration is at the heart of the whole event. We’re delighted to partner with Lapidus International, the words for wellbeing organisation. As well as being one of our keynote speakers Lapidus Chair Mel Perry is an important member or our organising team. We hope to see many Lapidus members at the event.

When it comes to shaping our programme of speakers and workshops, we’re looking for proposals that foster all four C’s. Academic conferences can sometimes feel inaccessible or dry, but our aim is to encourage presenters to make their research engaging and experiential—sparking discussion and inviting participation where appropriate. As we review applications in May, this will be our guiding light.

We’re also excited about our research-focused pre-conference workshop day: "Pilgrims of the Page: Building a Field Together." This is a unique opportunity for early career researchers and practitioners, who may not yet feel ready to present their work at the main conference, to connect with others by sharing work in progress, receiving feedback from peers and experienced mentors and building community together. The day will be facilitated by Dr Mariana Casale with support from other members of the conference team.

Ultimately, our hope is to create a welcoming, safe, and collegial atmosphere throughout the three days —where everyone gathers as companions in Canterbury, united by a love of poetry and literature research, and shared learning.

Finally, a reminder that our deadline for proposals is 3rd May. (You can find out more information about how to submit here.) Places are limited at the conference so we do encourage early booking to secure your place if possible

We can’t wait to see the community continue to grow, and we look forward to welcoming you in October.

Victoria, Mel, Mariana, Jon, Eduard and Anne 

Welcome to the 3rd European Biblio/Poetry Therapy Conference: A Pilgrimage of the Page

Welcome to the first blog from the 3rd European Biblio/Poetry Therapy Conference organising team.

Canterbury is famous for the shrine of St Thomas Becket, a focus for medieval travellers from all over Europe. It was immortalised by Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, a collection of stories told by fictional pilgrims who journeyed to the city from London.

In this spirit, we invite you as a participant of the conference to become a ‘pilgrim of the page’. Our time together will be a shared path—one that honours the deep kinship between story, healing, and the human need to travel together for meaning.

Inspired by The Canterbury Tales

Inspired by The Canterbury Tales, we have imagined the conference through three interwoven metaphors that reflect both the pilgrim journey and the biblio-poetry therapeutic encounter:

The Tavern

In Chaucer’s vision, the pilgrimage begins in a tavern, a convivial, ordinary human space where people gather before the road, bringing their differences, stories, wounds, humour, and hopes.

Our philosophy is that the Tavern will represent the conference as an informal space of welcome. Here, hierarchy softens, and conversation can arise naturally. It is an image that recognises that biblio-poetry therapy begins with kindness, listening, and presence.

We will provide moments and places within the conference where participants can feel comfortable to simply arrive as they are.

The Road

Pilgrimage is not about rushing to the destination; it is about what happens along the way. The conference road will allow stories to surface, perspectives to shift, and unexpected encounters to occur. For us, this gathering is an opportunity to explore and experience sessions, dialogues, workshops, and informal encounters along the way.

We believe the Road metaphor also acknowledges an understanding of biblio-poetry therapy as a process, not simply a technique—something that unfolds through time, rhythm, and relationship as we walk either together or alone.

We will design the conference rhythm so that participants feel accompanied rather than driven. We trust that meaning accrues through movement, pause, and repetition.

The Shrine

In Canterbury, the pilgrimage traditionally culminates at the shrine—a place of stillness, reverence, and inward turning. Arrival at the shrine is not just an ending but rather a moment that offers possibilities of integration before the return to ordinary life.

In terms of this conference, we like to think of the Shrine representing moments of reflection, synthesis, and inner listening. Held within the unique atmosphere of Cathedral Lodge and its proximity to the Cathedral itself, these moments invite participants to honour biblio-poetry therapy as a practice of care, conscience, and meaning, rooted as much in silence as in speech.

Across tavern, road, and shrine, we will come together as a temporary community of pilgrims—practitioners, scholars, facilitators, and companions—each carrying their own tale, yet walking alongside for a time.

Join Us on This Unique Journey

We look forward to meeting and walking alongside friends and colleagues from across Europe who are able to join us on this unique journey. Together, we will explore how words can heal and transform lives, fostering a shared journey of learning and connection within the European biblio/poetry therapy community.

Let us embrace this opportunity to deepen our understanding and practice, as we collectively engage in the beautiful art of biblio-poetry therapy.

With warm regards,

Victoria, Mel, Mariana, Jon, Eduard, and Anne