GROWING NAI WORKSHOP

Community Workshop Facilitator

Certificate of H.E, University of Essex

Nai curates creative well-being 1-1s, workshops and programs.

Nai combines her previous education with her lived experience to tailer relatable and empowering workshops within our communities.

For enquires or booking a workshop email:

connect@growingnaipoetry.com

Education

Nai trained for two years to facilitate community workshops on the BA Acting and Community Theatre Course through The University of Essex (East15).

Working with Ms. Blackburn on that project was a delight. Her enthusiasm, intelligence, sensitivity, hard work, good humour and sociability made her a great asset not only to the project itself but also to the other students with whom she was required to work. Based on that experience I have no doubts in recommending her as a steadfast and responsible person with whom I would gladly work again.

Andrew Breakwell
Freelance Theatre Director 2012 - 2018
Associate Artist Nottingham Playhouse 2012 – 2017

Nai is currently training through the Prison Yoga Project: Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration:

This 34-hour training provides a solid foundation for understanding the necessity of addressing interpersonal and systemic trauma as a primary underlying force behind incarceration and the rationale for body-based mindfulness practices, such as yoga, to address that trauma.

Previous Roles

Nai trained with NCS (National Citizenship Service) and worked as a Team Leader delivering programs to nurture young people in their self-development and engagement in social action.

I have come to know Naomi incredibly well. Aswell as the delivery of the NCS programme

with young people it also involved ensuring Naomi was able to:
• Build a strong working relationship with the young people so they felt like they were
authentically listened to
• To improve their self- belief and confidence
• To encourage them to understand their own strengths
• Support them to reflect on their successes as well as their challenges
During the time working with Naomi she was outstanding in all that she delivered, her
attendance, punctuality and commitment to her word was never in question and feedback from
young people, parents/carers and other staff was highly complementary and commented greatly
about Naomi’s authenticity, caring and nurturing personality.

Insia Ishaji – Director
www.thepowertobe.co.uk

Nai has worked for Mind (mental health charity) running weekly community poetry and well being workshops and 1-1 emotional support sessions.

She is bright and capable, with lived experience that has led her to be a compassionate and understanding Mental Health Support Worker.

Supervision of groups such as breathing and meditation, poetry etc. has been exemplary.

With one-to-one emotional support, her feedback is extremely strong, and she is trusted, with a caring demeanor.

Annie Winsland, Manager, MIND Local Community Hub

Recently Nai was awarded funding from the Northamptonshire Community Foundation in partnership with The Lab (community music venue) to create and manage 'Pause' a local self care and development program for local musicians (see feedback below).

Most recently Nai has been delivering poetry and well being workshops at Headway charity for participants effected by brain injury.

JOURNEYING THROUGH POETRY

TESTIMONIALS

Journaling & Well-Being Circle's Feedback (Pause Program Management)

"The program has massively improved my whole feeling of self-worth because I’ve felt valued, seen and heard. From someone who is really isolated, this program has been really valuable in getting me out the house and socialising. I have felt supported and held and truly valued and cared for. It’s been of huge benefit to me"

"This program helped me take stock on relationships where I am over giving and has encouraged me to find reciprocal relationships. I’m really grateful to have been on this program and to have made more connections and would like to discuss future collaborative work in this area"

"The journaling has been life changing for me. I have made a lot of use of the journals and they have played a big part of my integration. Each workshop was very deep and gave me time each month carved out just for me.. I’ve needed something like this program for a long time. Naomi has been a safe person to share with on this program"

"The program honestly helped me rethink my whole viewpoint of myself. I have always been someone who looks after others and helps others but never took the time to care for myself, so I really managed to do that for the first time ever thanks to our sessions"

"Nai did a great job creating safe warm welcoming spaces, it was beautiful"

"The facilitators have been so brilliant, and I'm just very grateful for this wellbeing programme, it's so needed. It's definitely given me a sense of belonging, as well as increased my confidence and be proud of who i am and my uniqueness."

Journeying Through Poetry with Nai - Empower Poetry participants feedback:

Reflective and Enlightening, both in thinking about myself but also in terms of knowing there are like-minded people out there. It was a very enjoyable experience and a safe space to share and reflect on life experiences. It was well structured - there was time to share as a group, to reflect and work individually and learn/be taught.

I felt like I was meant to be here...I deserved to be here to learn and express myself in a space where everyone is welcome. I found tools & writing techniques, allowing my words to only make sense to me.