Bold imagination, true collaboration, real impact.
Read the stories from our thoughtfully crafted events .
Poetry as an antidote
At Just imagine if_ we are drawing on poetry and art to reconnect us to humanity.
Poetry ...
Just imagine if_ ...
Art ...
Taking time ...
Poetry ... Just imagine if_ ... Art ... Taking time ...
About the events
As clinicians and others working for many years in the NHS we may find ourselves adapting to the culture and surviving by narrowing our attention, with a tendency to focus on, tasks, protocols, efficiency, metrics and risk management.
Working under these conditions for many years, we can lose contact with ambiguity, grief, tenderness, awe, moral complexity, the subjective reality of our patient’s lives and our own inner worlds. The very stuff that makes us human and helps us to be humans together. It’s likely that this separation from the lives of those we are caring for and our own personal human needs, contributes to clinician disillusionment and burnout.
Poetry can act like an antidote to this narrowing of focus and broaden ways of paying attention to those around us and the complexities of their lives.
Reading poetry can trigger embodied knowing and connects us with our inner worlds. Both reading and writing poems, require us to slow down, use a different sort of attention which invites noticing rather than controlling. Poetry can become a way of capturing and legitimising uncertainty and emotional complexity.
What we did
Our first poetry gathering was in July. We shared the poem below and asked ourselves
What does this poem mean to me?
How did it feel in our body as we read the poem?
What resonated?
This led to a discussion too wide ranging to share here, other than a few highlights. We noticed that for many of us in our healthcare training, and also within the western culture in general, we are trained and encouraged to pay attention to the stuff going on in our heads, but little attention is paid to the way we feel in our bodies. This led onto a discussion about noticing our feelings and how our bodies respond when we encounter new social situations, including when we meet patients.
Here is the poem we explored together. As you read it, think about the three questions above:
Something Like The Sea
Philip Gross - Deep Field. Published by BloodAxe
Part II of a three part poem
On the shores of Lake Aphasia
mist seeps upwards, early morning, in fine strands
like milk in water. Almost Japanese.
In some Zen light, or Pure Land,
we might see it so:
the more
white paper, the more eloquent:
silence
measuring the distance between this and this.
I wish I could say
'We sat for half an hour in silence.
Nothing needed to be said'
It isn't true. You can't stop
rattling a box of empty syllables
while something needs, it cries out,
for the saying. Is this it?
I write on your word-pad, I
mime. Is it this? Or this?
Help me! Who looking in
the window now would say
which of us was the one deprived of speech.
More to come
We are planning on running more poetry sessions. They are 45mins long online, and will alternative between lunchtime and evening, aligning with the equinox and solstice dates. If you would like to join please e-mail nickie@justimagineif.org.uk or hello@justimagineif.org.uk.
Creativity and imagination to build positive change
A series of Just imagine if_ sessions for Back on Track designed to build hope for the future, deepen understanding and contribute to positive change.
〰️
just imagine if_
in partnership with Back on Track
〰️ just imagine if_ in partnership with Back on Track
Participant visualisation
About what we did
When you visit Back on Track in Northern Manchester, you enter a world of warmth and possibility. As a specialist provider of community learning and holistic support to adults experiencing multiple disadvantage, Back on Track is a place where people can connect and grow.
We ran a series of ½ day Just imagine if_ sessions designed to build hope for the future, deepen understanding of themselves and contribute to positive change. Underpinned by creativity and imagination, its aims were to:
Use imagination and creativity to help navigate your life
Learn how to positively influence change
Grow the ability to collaborate and connect with others
Develop storytelling skills
Build resilience to support you along the way
The tables were awash with crayons, modelling materials, papers of all colours and sizes. And the conversation grew session by session. One participant who said they had never stayed for a whole session or indeed completed any course before.
The sessions demonstrate what is possible with spaces where people feel able to be courageous. A place of no judgement, equal voice and respect for everyone around the table. The relationships blossomed, and towards the end individuals were telling their stories and exploring the future in new ways, and had started to take small steps forward: from meeting family where relationships were difficult to buying a pet with all the accompanying responsibility.
Voices
“The only course that has left me reflecting all week”
“I have learnt things about myself ”
“Participants leave with positive energy and a spring in their step. We know so much more about each other through storytelling and are now able to help in new ways.”
““More positive about the future”. ”
A place at the table
Co-creating an inclusion strategy for the Southwest
〰️
just imagine if_
supporting Bath Spa University
〰️ just imagine if_ supporting Bath Spa University
just imagine if_ supporting Bath Spa University to deliver:
‘A place at the table.’
About the event
Creating a Manifesto For Inclusion
A unique two-day symposium exploring why and how to ensure inclusion is at the heart of our communities, councils and institutions.
The workshop was led by Nickie Jakeman, co-curator at Just imagine if_ and Phoebe Kemp who describes herself as a queer trans disabled director. The 2 half day workshops brought together a range of marginalised groups to explore what it means to be included. And the beginnings of the creation of an inclusion manifesto for the region.
Voices
“tbd”
just imagine if_ Greater Manchester was the healthiest place in the world
A powerful day of imagination and action at Manchester Museum!
Leaders, creatives, clinicians, community voices and students came together to reimagine the future of health and care in Greater Manchester. Grateful to our partners at Manchester Museum and Healthier Futures at the University of Manchester for making space for big ideas — and even bigger possibilities.
〰️
just imagine if_
in partnership with Manchester Museum and Healthier Futures at the University of Manchester
〰️ just imagine if_ in partnership with Manchester Museum and Healthier Futures at the University of Manchester
Visual recording of the event
The Manchester Museum offered the perfect backdrop for a day alive with imagination, curiosity, and collaboration. Recently named European Museum of the Year 2025, the Museum champions a mission to be the most inclusive, imaginative, and caring museum you’ll ever visit—values that resonate powerfully with the work of Just Imagine If.
Together with Healthier Futures at the University of Manchester, whose focus is addressing health inequalities across communities and populations, the synergy across partners created a vibrant space for collective visioning and meaningful dialogue.
About the event
Stepping into the future
More than 40 participants came together to imagine new possibilities for the future of Health and Care in Greater Manchester. Through deep listening and creative collaboration, leaders from the ICB, healthcare trusts, charities, academia, frontline services, the arts, and service-user communities shared their perspectives.
Together, they co‑created inspiring visions and constructed models that expressed the future they wish to bring to life. The energy in the room was one of shared purpose and bold imagination—a genuine testament to what can emerge when many voices are welcomed into the conversation.
Acknowledging the present
Participants reflected on their lived experiences within the current health and care landscape. They identified barriers standing between today’s realities and tomorrow’s aspirations—while also uncovering opportunities for progress.
New relationships formed quickly, sparking innovative ideas and strengthening the foundations for continued collaboration. The room buzzed with optimism, honesty, and a powerful readiness for change.
Taking ideas into action
As the day drew to a close, participants committed to practical first steps toward turning their shared visions into reality. Working together made the path ahead feel more achievable and far less daunting.
From reimagining education to better equip future generations, to exploring more flexible financial systems that could reduce pressure on hospital beds, participants identified real opportunities to drive change across Greater Manchester’s health and care ecosystem.
Voices
““Coming together to really make a difference to the lives of the people of Greater Manchester… how can you not be inspired by that.””
“I’m really enjoying the variety of voices and meeting people from sectors I’ve never connected with before.”
“I hope this leads to better ideas and innovative action - tangible, concrete things that people can actually act on, not just abstract thinking.”
“We haven’t had a space like this before. It’s been fantastic to share ideas, find solutions, build networks—and we’ve had a really, really great day!”
“Bringing together so many people from different backgrounds changes the way you see common problems entirely.”
Catalyst Event
Our catalyst event
〰️
just imagine if_
in partnership with Hawkwood Centre for Future Thinking
〰️ just imagine if_ in partnership with Hawkwood Centre for Future Thinking
Hawkwood Catalyst Event
In partnership with the Hawkwood Centre for Future Thinking, our catalyst event brought together patients, professionals, creatives, and changemakers to co-create their vision for the future: a space for brave ideas and bold action.
About the event
Stepping into the future
More than 40 participants came together to imagine new possibilities for the future of Health and Care in Greater Manchester. Through deep listening and creative collaboration, leaders from the ICB, healthcare trusts, charities, academia, frontline services, the arts, and service-user communities shared their perspectives.
Together, they co‑created inspiring visions and constructed models that expressed the future they wish to bring to life. The energy in the room was one of shared purpose and bold imagination—a genuine testament to what can emerge when many voices are welcomed into the conversation.
Acknowledging the present
Participants reflected on their lived experiences within the current health and care landscape. They identified barriers standing between today’s realities and tomorrow’s aspirations—while also uncovering opportunities for progress.
New relationships formed quickly, sparking innovative ideas and strengthening the foundations for continued collaboration. The room buzzed with optimism, honesty, and a powerful readiness for change.
Taking ideas into action
As the day drew to a close, participants committed to practical first steps toward turning their shared visions into reality. Working together made the path ahead feel more achievable and far less daunting.
From reimagining education to better equip future generations, to exploring more flexible financial systems that could reduce pressure on hospital beds, participants identified real opportunities to drive change across Greater Manchester’s health and care ecosystem.
Voices
“The space created for cross-disciplinary conversations was priceless—every voice valued, every idea brave.”
“Excited to see how this could develop and keep moving forward with transformational actions.”