https://www.eventbrite.es/e/1245946642949?aff=oddtdtcreator
‘Poets Together Awright!’ a poetic evening celebrating the finale of the Modern Cockney Festival and the launch of a national poetry competition to promote community togetherness is being held on Thursday March 27 th at the Roof Park, Print Rooms, Dalston, London.
Poets include Tim Wells, novelist and poet who describes himself as being made of reggae, lager top, pie and mash, and Leyton Orient FC, Chip Hamer, a published poet and stalwart of political poetry and founder member of Poetry on the Picket Lines, along with Ovyuki.
The event launches the ‘Togetherness Poetry Challenge’, a UK-wide poetry challenge offering £1,000 in prizes and supported by community poetry workshops, organised as part of the Steps to Togetherness campaign, in collaboration with Hidden Literature, the Poetry Society, The Poetry School and Poetry Pharmacy and the Modern Cockney Festival.
At a time of division and polarisation, the competition aims to highlight what we have in common, our shared identities, and build on the foundations of togetherness to remind us that, despite our differences, we’re interconnected through our humanity, resilience, and creativity. All celebrated through the medium of poetry.
To enter, visit the Togetherness Poetry Challenge website
https://www.togethernesspoetrychallenge.org
“Poetry is a powerful tool for breaking boundaries, challenging stereotypes, and celebrating our rich diversity, where every voice matters.“ said Mark Ereira-Guyer of Civil Society Consulting, organisers of 32 Steps to Togetherness.
‘Togetherness Poetry Challenge’
Togetherness Poetry Challenge under the theme of “Decolonising Minds and Shared Identities”. Part of a flagship initiative by 32 Steps to Togetherness, this project aims to bring people together and foster community. From March to August 2025, the challenge will be open to everyone based in the UK. In partnership with Hidden Literature, a programme of workshops involving participants from last year’s challenge, poetry organisations and professional poets are being arranged to further inspire and support submissions.
Prizes include £500 for the winning poem and five £100 commendation prizes.
The judging panel include Elizabeth Cook, Pascale Petit, Aminah Rahman, Shasta Hanif Ali, and Arthur Smith.
Modern Cockney is a community partnership between the Bengali East End Heritage Society and social enterprise Grow Social Capital. It works to promote the culture, heritage, and social identity of modern Cockneys based on positive inclusive values. It organises the Modern Cockney Festival with online and offline events to provide an emergent space for people to explore, discover, and celebrate their affinity with the ‘non-posh Londoner’.