COYC sessions are now up and running!
COYC sessions are now up and running!
Clear Out Your Closet
Our overarching ethos is to be people-oriented, organic, and flexible, providing opportunities for all. We aim to support groups and individuals in managing the fluctuations in life demands and mental health through the skills, tools, and connections offered by written and spoken words, music, and voice. We seek to connect with everyone and everything within us all.
Looking for a unique way to declutter your mind and enhance your wellbeing?
Join our COYC (Clear Out Your Closet) writing sessions at the Music House, where we blend creativity and spoken word, to clear mental and emotional clutter through the power of writing.
Sessions @ The Music House and online!
For more information and to sign up, contact: contact Michellescallyclarke@hotmail.com
Transform your wellbeing, one word at a time. See you at the Music House and online!
COYC Archive of Collectives work
Over the coming months a portfolio of the collectives work will be collated in the archive
The Clear Out Your Closet Collective (COYCC)
A pioneering user led peer support group of people created by our patron Michelle Scally Clarke.
We are multi community focussed and passionate about inclusion in the broadest sense (including ethnically, socioeconomically, gender, sexuality, age). Our online sessions are open to all and we have attendees from as far away as Finland. We are keen to grow the strengths of the group and improve our sustainability.
From our roots we continue our CYOCC journey as performers for hire.
Michelle’s Clear Out Your Closet sessions enabled us to find a way to connect and be that led us to thrive. Her unique skills, guidance, passion and compassion supported us to step into her idea of us becoming the collective.
Michelle provided a safe, sensitively regulated, space to meet, talk, write and support each other. Many of us had no experience of spoken word writing and did not believe we could write anything at all. Her exercises encouraged us to connect with and express emotion, imagination, thoughts, shadows - everything from the full spectrum of our existence. Michelle helped us to trust this ability to write and share our vulnerability across our diverse life experiences and challenges. She then enabled us to take the brave step to use our voices, often combined creatively with sound, music, dance and more, to perform in our communities and online, reaching out and connecting through our work.This transformation, through Michelle’s guidance and mutual peer support, has had an amazing impact on, and boost to our wellbeing.
As expressed in this poem (by Theresa one of our members) about the group….
All are diff in mind, body an soul.
Our appearances and personalities come together as one.
Each one tells a unique story.
Their words are theres alone.
You can tell whose is whose
Just by their words that flow.
Lingering sentences to the sounds of rhythm in their tone.
Straight to the point, descriptive an’ personal to some.
We all learn an’ feel sumat from them.
Encouraging words we hear from one another.
Uplifted from start to the end.
Testimonials
Being part of this wonderful collective poetry group has meant finding inspiration, support, and a sense of community among fellow poets.
It's a safe space to share our work, receive valuable feedback and encouragement, and also to enable us to collaborate on creative projects.
Culminating into fostering growth and stronger connection within our group.
Pauline Hanson- Gilman, Huddersfield aged 57
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I am thankful for this group and grateful that Michelle has been able to run it. It’s been a safe place to go and be among people that understand you. Through this group I have been able to express my thoughts and feelings out, which isn't always easy, so it’s done me really good and helped me with my confidence. So appreciative for it and Michelle.
Theresa Taylor, Leeds aged, 57.
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This group helped get me through a difficult time. Lockdown. It helps keep up my writing and workshop delivering skills and it gives me a mental health boost each time I attend. Thank you COYC for including me as part of your group and for validating my worth
Ella Frances Sanderson, Ilkley aged 25.
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I only joined the group two weeks ago. My Cousin Bernie had been telling me about it for a little while and is so enthusiastic about it. I can see why she was. Everyone is so friendly and supportive and even in two weeks I’ve written a poem on a subject I would never have thought about before.
Has given me an extra boost in my life.
Marian Bernadette Havenhand, Chippenham, Wiltshire aged 69
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Since retiring I found myself with time to follow my passion of writing but had no structure. Joining COYC has helped me to gain knowledge and insight into what I want to achieve in my journey. The support from the diverse group and Michelle has helped me gain confidence and widened my world. We are a writing family
Averil MacGillivary , leeds , aged 70
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What the collective means to me:
A space to put pen to paper.
No topic too short.
No emotion too expressive.
Being part of this has made me grow. Made me more aware and confident in my own abilities as a person who’s “different according to society.”
Michelle as nurtured me and held my shaking hand when I’ve been anxious.
The collective is my extended family.
Lyla Asif, Leeds aged 33.
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Being with the collective has been my gateway to better understanding of myself and the world around me. I have met many wonderful friends and had experiences I had never even considered let alone thought possible. Attending the group is a highlight of my week every week and a real pleasure to participate and what myself and everyone develop into the people they can be.
Gordon Johnston aged 46. Leeds.
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I'm not sure how long I've been part of the collective
It seems like forever in a good way
I never know each week what is going to come out but I find it very therapeutic
There are not many places where I feel safe and accepted so this is so important to me
I love this group and it kept me from going stir crazy in covid
Thanks collective you are all wonderful
Julie Jones, Leeds, 53 years young.
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This group has helped me to express.
There is a supportive group atmosphere.
It is helping me to develop as a poet.
It has helped me feel better mentally.
It provides an environment where I feel safe to talk.
Most of all, it's a lot of fun.
Leonard Baskerville, Leeds
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I have been part of the collective for a while, everyone is amazing and so pure hearted it's a beautiful group to be a part of. Michelle is an excellent person with a heart of gold and always makes sure everyone is happy and healthy. Would just like to say thank you for making my days happier to look forward to every session with you all.
Leighan Dagless Leeds aged 34