Speak Up!
A simple brief posed as a simple question; ‘What matters to you, right now?’
The idea for this project came about while talking to a group of young people at a launch event. The group was bemoaning the fact that the issues they were encouraged to write about always seemed to follow someone else’s agenda. It’s not that the group weren’t political, and it’s not that they didn’t care about climate change or bullying or other pressing issues, it’s just that no-one asked them what they felt strongly about. No one asked them what aspects of society they felt needed pushing against.
So this anthology is just that, it’s a response to issues that each of the young poets feel strongly about right now. We put the same question to three different groups in three different schools around the South West. Into each setting we brought the help and expertise of a different, amazing poet; each a virtuoso of their craft and each with a distinct and unique voice. Axe Valley Academy in Axminster worked with Louisa Adjoa Parker, Budmouth Academy in Weymouth worked with Myriam San Marco and the Sir John Colfox Academy in Bridport worked with Jonny Fluffypunk. Each poet was different, each group was different, but the brief was the same.
A simple brief posed as a simple question; ‘What matters to you, right now?’
The idea for this project came about while talking to a group of young people at a launch event. The group was bemoaning the fact that the issues they were encouraged to write about always seemed to follow someone else’s agenda. It’s not that the group weren’t political, and it’s not that they didn’t care about climate change or bullying or other pressing issues, it’s just that no-one asked them what they felt strongly about. No one asked them what aspects of society they felt needed pushing against.
So this anthology is just that, it’s a response to issues that each of the young poets feel strongly about right now. We put the same question to three different groups in three different schools around the South West. Into each setting we brought the help and expertise of a different, amazing poet; each a virtuoso of their craft and each with a distinct and unique voice. Axe Valley Academy in Axminster worked with Louisa Adjoa Parker, Budmouth Academy in Weymouth worked with Myriam San Marco and the Sir John Colfox Academy in Bridport worked with Jonny Fluffypunk. Each poet was different, each group was different, but the brief was the same.