the holding time project
‘The Holding Time Project’ is a rolling inter-disciplinary, co-created portrait
of breastfeeding.The outcomes of the project include writing and performances by
breastfeeding mothers, animated portraits as immersive installations, audio
tours using narratives and interviews, a Youtube channel and podcast. The
project has been shortlisted for this year’s Royal College of Midwives
Excellence in Public Health.
These courses are designed to help new mothers, or anyone who has recently given
birth, an opportunity to create poetry or prose from the experience of the post
part period. With a particular emphasis on wellbeing, the process of creating
new writing is an opportunity to make meaning form what can be a difficult
journey to parenthood. In particular, the struggle to feed whilst recovering
from birth, is a time when many find themselves isolated and grappling with a
huge amount of new information.
Writing, as a therapy can help to locate and identify key moments in this
journey, giving the experience shape and definition.
Rachel New, our writing coach is an experienced workshop lead with years of
writing and radio producing behind her. She designed this series of sessions to
help mothers navigate their new landscape of motherhood as a group.
These workshops support the wider Holding Time programme, aimed at normalizing
breastfeeding, deepening public engagement and increasing social concern for the
needs of breastfeeding mothers and those who tried but were unable to
breastfeed.
