11:00 am, June 7 2026
Backyard Comedy Club, Bethnal Green
Speaker: Claudia Colella
Guest poets have always been a mainstay of our assemblies. At this assembly, we explored how poetry can become a powerful tool for expression and healing.
Guest speaker & poet: Claudia Colella
Claudia is a humanistic-integrative counsellor and somatic therapist. She drew on her work using poetry within therapy to help give voice to experiences that are often hard to put into words.
Via insights from contemporary neuroscience and practices such as trauma release exercises (TRE) and sophrology, we found out how poetic language can engage both mind and body – supporting nervous system regulation, deepening self-awareness, and opening up new ways of connecting with ourselves and others.
While often have a guest poet after our talk, this time we were the poets! Our Community Lead Tanya led us in a collaborative poetry writing activity, using sensory metaphors to tell a story of bad experiences becoming good.
Our singalongs
As usual, there were four pop songs performed by our Sunday Assembly London band and reflecting today’s themes:
- Everybody’s Talkin’ – Fred Neil; covered by Harry Nilsson
- Talk – Coldplay
- More Than Words – Extreme
- Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
The lyrics were projected on screen and everyone was welcome to sing (and dance) along.
About Sunday Assembly London
Sunday Assembly London is your regular and reliable stop for a welcoming, accessible and inspiring Sunday community, where you can hear talks and poetry, sing songs and make new friends.
Stay after for tea, biscuits, and chat in the Backyard Comedy Club. Then join us for a local meal, picnic, or a drink and short card/board games at the pub.
→ Our next assembly: Ending Racism in Science is Everyone’s Business, 21st June
← Our previous assembly: Woodshop of Recycled Delights, 17th May
→ And after that:
Queer Disabled Joy!, 5th July
Adult ADHD, 19th July