When it’s CLEAR …it’s not.
Dave Meneer visits 8 Cathedral Lane in Truro
“Oh, I can go all cryptic on the headline front after a journey in the pouring rain into an oasis of positivity and joy down a back alley in our Great Little City - Truro. 8 Cathedral Lane actually - slap dab in the centre of Truro . And I felt bathed in sunshine when I walked through the door from the rain.
“Now that happens most days in this unique place but today (27th November) and indeed until Saturday (30th November) it’s giving just a little of its selling space to its own wonderful contribution to “16 days of Activism” – an international campaign and call to end gender – based violence.
With the hashtag “no excuses’ – because there are none.
“They call it CLEAR VOICES - an exhibition of creativity and positive thought and energy, all produced by the people that CLEAR sets out to help every day. It’s unusual, assured, highly creative and unique because the people who have put this together are just that too. There is art, literature, poetry, jewellery - a rather unique, heartfelt and uplifting blend of ‘this is who we are’ and this is what CLEAR is. And how it’s helped us.
“CLEAR which runs this place thrives and runs on putting things right rather than dwelling on, and getting bogged down by, the wrongs. It is a charity dedicated to bringing highly trained skills and expertise to the troubled world of handling trauma and everything that causes and follows that.
“And this exhibition was put together by its ‘clients’ – the adults and children and those in between who have suffered trauma but are bouncing back on a CLEAR day to get their lives back and back on track.
“The art – paintings and prints and photography is what first grabs you and a vibrant calendar for 2025 too of course featuring many of these graphics. “ CLEAR voices through pictures” – every month a new even clearer voice from someone (typically young) with talent and courage on a difficult journey that CLEAR has made easier. And, yes, most of it is for sale; of course it is! No point having a shop without (modest…very) price tags.
“The photographs by Eiran Lapham have already appeared to wide acclaim in the book “ODES OF GROWTH” but here they are again, on the wall, big, where they belong. At the end of the book I stumbled upon a joy of a poem; just 11 lines, just 25 words, called “Ode to a Counsellor”. You don’t stumble upon titles like that every day but it fits right in here. And there’s prints by Victora Amy and yet more vibrant artwork by Nikita Midgley – a wall of it. Price tags too.
“Tiny but eye-catching and also by Victora Amy are bracelets hand-made of clay and wonderfully, uniquely hand-coloured and quietly adorned with symbols designed to support people experiencing distressing flashbacks and to help ground them, self sooth them and empower them. (Yes, no ‘e’ on the end of sooth and who am I to argu with an artiste!?) they’re lovely and yes, they will all be snapped up.
“There are Christmas Care packages full of all sorts of goodies and there are three truly excellent books – CLEAR CONVERSATIONS edited by Sarah Perry in which therapists who work with young people talk about their practice. Sounds dull, isn’t.
“Two other quite beautifully presented diary type handbooks are the SELF CARE PLAYBOOK to help you ‘feel peaceful, empowered and free’ and GRATITUDE – full of optimism and designed to move the reader gently from judgement to gratitude and to “blitz negativity’.
I rather liked that and the section on “Three parts of my body I’m grateful for’. I finally got to three on the half hour drive home and I suspect there may be even more! These two real goodies by Frances Verbeek; she’s big in yoga too if that’s your thing.
“I could go on. And I didn’t expect that I would. Get in there off the alley…sorry, Cathedral Lane…and check it all out for yourself – there’s lots of other stuff too. And lots of modest little price tags. Go on!”
Dave Meneer, November 2024
8 Cathedral Lane in Truro will be regularly open between 10am and 4 pm Monday to Saturday in the run up to Christmas with a great collection of bespoke handmade Christmas gifts and decorations alongside a wide selection of preloved clothes, homeware and donated crafts.!
And
27th November – open until 9pm for Wednesday Late Night Shopping
As part of 16 Days of Activism 8 Cathedral Lane will be hosting a CLEAR Voices art exhibition. Having a voice and being heard is important in a journey of recovery - sometimes that voice is expressed creatively, through play, music, art or poetry. The CLEAR Voices exhibition is provided through the art and words of children and adults supported by CLEAR. We are hugely grateful to all contributors for their courage, talent and for the journey they have been on.
Catch the exhibition
4th December – open until 9pm for Wednesday Late Night Shopping
5th December – Truro Childrens Clothes Bank 9-30am to 3-30pm
11th December – open until 9pm for Wednesday Late Night Shopping
18th December – open until 9pm for Wednesday Late Night Shopping
21st December – last day of opening until 2025!
The development of 8 Cathedral Lane is being supported through £37,120 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. In Cornwall it is administered through Cornwall Council. For more information visit
Planning for the New Year? Why not pop in and pick up one of our great calendars for £7
They say a picture paints a thousand words and we are both proud and delighted to share these pictures with you in our CLEAR 2025 Calendar. This beautiful collaboration is now available to purchase at 8 Cathedral lane in Truro. Our wonderful calendar is brought to you through the voices of children and adults supported by CLEAR and expressed through art.
We are hugely grateful to all contributors for their courage and talent and for sharing their images with us.
Pop in to purchase your 2025 calendar - £5 each; or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. call 01872 261147 to order your copy.
Enjoy a wonderful festive afternoon making a beautiful large Christmas Wreath or Christmas Swag for your home or to gift to someone special!
Enjoy a festive afternoon with Christmas refreshments and goodies including festive hot chocolate with all the trimmings!
All profits will be donated to CLEAR to support children, young people and adults to flourish after trauma.
Book here on Eventbrite
16 Days of Activism is an annual, international campaign which raises awareness of, and calls for an end to gender-based violence. It is estimated that 25% of women have experienced some form of gender-based abuse before the age of 16. In England and Wales 3,000 offences are recorded each day, with 1 in 12 women a victim of violence every year, with the actual number expected to be much higher.
The campaign runs from Monday 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and finishes on Tuesday 10 December, Human Rights Day.
It is estimated that 25% of women have experienced some form of gender-based abuse before the age of 16. In England and Wales 3,000 offences are recorded each day, with 1 in 12 women a victim of violence every year, with the actual number expected to be much higher.
As part of 16 days there will be a CLEAR Voices exhibition of artwork and poetry at 8 Cathedral Lane. Having a voice and being heard is important in a journey of recovery - sometimes that voice is expressed creatively, through play, music, art or poetry. The CLEAR Voices exhibition is provided through the art and words of children and adults supported by CLEAR. We are hugely grateful to all contributors for their courage, talent and for the journey they have been on.
Pop in to 8 Cathedral Lane from 27th to 30th November to visit our exhibition.
Check out the Safer Cornwall webpage here https://safercornwall.co.uk/16-days-of-action/
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