Hope On Prescription

03/08/2026

Comment your response below 👇

It is a beautiful Monday evening and the flowers are decorating our towns and parks.

I invite you to take five minutes to write a four line verse about a special moment you have had in nature recently.

02/08/2026

Have you checked your letter box??

Today we have been delivering our Writing for Wellbeing Programme that is packed with creative activities this summer. Leading to an exciting afternoon of poetry and music!

As a small CIC we rely heavily on word and mouth, so if you don't think this is for you, perhaps you have a friend, a family member or a local community group that might be interested.

Let's help spread the word, thank you ❤

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Funded and supported by Kent County Council, Dartford Borough Council, Kent Community Fund and many more incredible local businesses and charities! Thank you so much for all your support.

31/07/2026

Haiku for Hope Competition - Now Open for Submissions!

What is hope?

Is it the first light on the horizon?

The sound of rain after a long drought?

The hand you didn’t expect to hold?

We’re inviting you to capture hope in just three lines, using the beautifully simple form of a haiku.

🖋 Your challenge:

Write a haiku (5–7–5 syllables) inspired by the question:

What is hope?

It could be something you’ve experienced, something you’ve witnessed, or something you imagine.

Up to five winning haiku will be displayed in shop windows across Dartford as part of a walking trail of poetry, helping to raise awareness of our Where The Light Begins Festival

📅 Deadline: Monday 17th August, 11am

📩 How to enter: Email your haiku to [email protected]

The winning entries will be selected by the Festival Team.

Three lines.
One question.
Endless possibilities.

We can’t wait to read your words.

27/07/2026

Next week Tuesday!!! Drop me a comment or a message to secure your spot! 👇

Expect an evening of wondering words, exhilarating voices, and powerful storytelling, a space to discover new work, connect, and be moved.

📍 The Stage Door, Dartford, DA1 1BE
The Stage Door Public House
🗓 Tues 2nd June, Tues 7th July, Tues 4th Aug, Tues 1st September
⏰ 8:00 PM start - Free Entry

This is a poetry-focused open mic, taking place monthly. The performance slots are for poets only, but everyone is warmly invited to come along, watch, and soak it all in.

Each poet will have a 5 to 10-minute set, with a short interval to pause and connect.

⚠️ Please note: if you want to perform please comment below: 'Perform' or email: [email protected]

⚠️ Please be clear on what date you want to perform.

Let’s gather, listen, and lift each other through words.

27/07/2026

Creativity Creates Moments of Joy at Darent Valley Hospital.

24/07/2026

Call for Artists, Illustrators and Designers!

We're looking for a creative to design the cover for our upcoming community poetry anthology:

📖 Where the Light Begins: Poems of Hope from Dartford and Beyond

This anthology brings together poems from children and young people, hospital patients, and adults from our Writing for Wellbeing workshops, celebrating hope, resilience, creativity and community.

✨ Commission Fee: £500 (fixed fee)

We're inviting artists, illustrators and designers who feel connected to the themes of hope and wellbeing to create a bespoke wrap-around book cover.

Deadline for Expressions of Interest: Friday 14th August 2026

For the full brief, application details and project information, visit:

https://hopeonprescription.co.uk/artist-opportunities

We can't wait to see your creativity and discover the artwork that will become the visual doorway into this special community anthology.

22/07/2026

🎙️ Hope On Prescription Live On Air

Join us this Thursday as we welcome the incredible Louis Findlay, a two-time award-winning Physiotherapy Assistant at Darent Valley Hospital with 8 years of service.

Louis shares his inspiring journey from teaching parkour and pursuing an acting career to helping patients take their first steps towards recovery. Together we'll explore how listening, movement, compassion and human connection can transform lives, both inside and outside the hospital.

We'll be talking about:
✨ Career changes and following unexpected opportunities
✨ The power of listening and making people feel heard
✨ Supporting patients through some of their most challenging moments
✨ Resilience, hope and finding purpose in helping others
✨ How creativity and acting have shaped Louis's approach to healthcare

Plus, we'll be sharing music chosen by Louis and reading poetry created with patients through Hope On Prescription's work at Darent Valley Hospital.

Tune in for an uplifting conversation celebrating hope, recovery and the people who make a difference every day.

📻 Hope On Prescription Live On Air
📅 Thursday 23rd July
🎙️ With Jemma Burgess & Dave Lockyer
Tune In: https://www.valleyparkradio.org.uk/

20/07/2026

Paper, Pens & Rising Voices is a two-hour creative writing and performance workshop designed to help young people aged 12–17 find and develop their voice.

In the first hour, participants explore poetry and creative writing through guided prompts that build imagination, emotional awareness, and storytelling skills. In the second hour, they learn how to bring their words to life through performance techniques including voice projection, stage presence, articulation, and confident delivery.

This workshop supports confidence building, communication skills, self-expression, and resilience in a safe, encouraging and inspiring environment.

Hour One – Create
Develop:
• Creative expression
• Storytelling techniques
• Vocabulary expansion
• Emotional literacy
• Imagination & originality

Hour Two – Perform
Learn:
• Stage presence
• Voice projection
• Breath control
• Performance confidence
• Public speaking skills
• Body language awareness

This workshop doesn’t just teach writing it builds courage, communication skills, resilience and self-belief.

Thursday 30th Jul 2026
10 AM - 12 PM

Book now, limited spaces.

🔗https://trafalgartickets.com/orchard-theatre-dartford/en-GB/event/creative-learning/paper-pens-and-rising-voices-writing-and-performance-workshop-30-jul-tickets

20/07/2026

Book Now: Limited Spaces!
Don't miss our Written Within, Spoken Out - Writing and Performance Workshop for Adults (18+). A two-hour workshop, where in the first hour, you can write, reflect, and connect in a calm, welcoming space with no pressure and no experience required!

Followed by a second hour of starting to develop performance skills, focusing on developing voice, communication, whilst building confidence, sharing work! ✨

Sign up via the Orchard Theatre website.
Tickets £25 and all money raised supports the running of our community events. Thank you for your contributions.

All participants will be invited to write a poem for this year's Poetry Anthology and will have the chance to perform at Where the Light Begins Festival this September!

Workshop Dates:

📆 Thu 23 Jul, Thu 24 Sep
🔗https://trafalgartickets.com/orchard-theatre-dartford/en-GB/community