YWCA Listening Project
Because your story matters.
We teamed up with poet, author and women’s advocate, Rachel Bower, to listen to the lived experiences of women. Through workshops, letters, and anonymous contributions, Rachel collected women’s powerful, painful and inspirational words to create a series of linked poems called ‘Look how far you have come’. This small book of big poems explores themes of homelessness, relationship breakdowns, abuse and financial hardship. We are sharing the poetry and our experiences of the YWCA LIstening Project, because we believe that women’s voices should be heard. Together we can support more women to speak up and speak out, and signpost essential services. Our message to all women everywhere is ‘your story matters’.
“and what if someone listened again. Believed again. Told you you were good enough.”
‘Look how far you have come’ was written by Rachel Bower voicing the words of women supported by YWCA Yorkshire. Their journeys speak of resilience, determination and hope for a better future. By ordering your own copy you can help support women and girls.
Sunflowers was voiced by Nicole Cannon and written by Rachel Bower in collaboration with the women of YWCA Yorkshire.
You can listen to all the poems in the series ‘Look how far you have come’ - poems are voiced by Rachel Bower
About Rachel Bower
Rachel Bower is an award-winning writer from Yorkshire, whose poetry, fiction and academic work has been widely published in journals and magazines, including Magma, The London Magazine, The Rialto, and The White Review.
Rachel’s debut novel, It Comes from the River, was published with Bloomsbury in January 2025. She is also the author of two poetry books, These Mothers of Gods (Fly on the Wall Press) and Moon Milk (Valley Press).
Proudly supporting the YWCA Listening Project
