Shannan’s film

Shannan has moved to Heywood in the last few years. As a child she was really shy, and later on was dealt ‘a rubbish hand in life’, culminating in her feeling unseen, side-lined and living in the shadows. She viewed the world based on how others told her to see it.

However, her fascination with people ultimately led her to becoming a funeral director. “I now understand the fragility of life and regularly see people at their most raw. This has led me into my higher purpose; to serve.  I now feel that I’m making a difference to people’s lives, which in turn helps me to feel like I matter, like I’m seen.”

Since school, poetry has always been a tool that helped her to explore feelings, express change and navigate tough times, however it remained private and was never shared widely. Until one day after being encouraged, she bravely performed her poetry at an open mic night in Bolton called Natter. “It’s changed my life,” she says, “I was so nervous beforehand, I thought everyone would judge me but in fact they just wanted to hear my voice, to hear my art.”

Now Shannan’s passion for life is infectious. She sees the joy and beauty in the small things and regularly performs her poetry, and is hoping to publish soon.  “I didn’t realise my potential before, I didn’t know I was so creative. Art brings people together, it connects us and we need to lean on each other in life.” 

"If there was no way of expressing myself through art, I genuinely don't know what I would do. I think it's such a therapeutic tool."