Switchblade Poetry hosts open mic for mental health charity

Credit: Switchblade Poetry

Below The Peer Hat on Faraday Street, there is a stage surrounded by mismatched chairs, a person stands centre stage.

Throughout the night performers talk of various issues all to raise money for charity. Welcome to Switchblade Poetry.

The monthly event embraces the unknown challenging poets to perform each other’s work all to raise money for charity.

The event helps raise money for Self Help Manchester; a mental health charity that offers a range of support services in Greater Manchester.

Since the first event in September, Switchblade Poetry has raised £250 for Self Help Manchester.

The money is raised through ticket sales, donations on the night and a raffle that takes place during intermission.

They also raised a further £150 last Sunday night to support those affected by the Bolton University accommodation fire.

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Michaela Violet, 23, is a co-founder of Switchblade Poetry and works as an NHS call handler.

Miss Violet said: “We wanted to make a comfortable place for people to talk about mental health.

“We’re both advocates for mental health and want to give people a place to talk about it.”

The event offers a variety of heartfelt and hilarious poetry often discussing issues related to mental health.

Sunday’s event was headlined by Rebecca Roy, a Manchester-based poet who’s work explores everything from space travel to professional wrestling.

Will Stevenson, 23, is the other co-founder of Switchblade Poetry. The University of Salford alumni hope to bring something new to the table with the event.

Mr Stevenson said: “We’re really trying to carve out space within the scene.

“There’s a variety of niches in Greater Manchester, Speak offers a rock and roll night and Punk in Drublic has a variety of comedians and poets performing.”

Switchblade Poetry, after only three events, is making a name for itself in the local poetry scene and raising money for a great cause while they’re at it.

The poetry open mic will return to the Peer Hat on December 22nd for Switchblade Session 4: Seasonal Spectacle.