;
Poetry Together is an annual initiative that celebrates the joy and benefits of learning poetry by heart and reciting it, across generations.
Now in its seventh year, the project was launched when Dukes Education teamed up with lover of language and leading broadcaster Gyles Brandreth to launch the nationwide scheme. which encourages schools to pair up with local care homes. School children of any age learn a poem, the old folks learn the same poem, and then they get together to perform their poem, and have tea together. The initiative begins every year on National Poetry Day and runs for several weeks in Autumn.
2025 registration is now open. Keep up to date with the initiative and register here.
In 2025, Poetry Together enters its seventh year. Over 1000 care homes and schools have participated in this project, from as far afield as Aberdeen, Bradford, Bristol, Blackpool, Caerphilly, Cambridge, Cornwall, Glasgow, Huddersfield, Hereford, Dover, Llandaff, Londonderry, Liverpool, Leicester, Portsmouth, Sussex, and dozens of other locations around the UK. Last year, news spread beyond our shores, and schools in Greece, Romania, Dubai, the UAE, Nigeria, and the USA signed up.
On November 11th 2024 Poetry Together held a special event at Central Hall Westminster where 1,000 people, young and old joined together to celebrate all things poetry. Guests enjoyed workshops and performances from top poets; former Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho, Steven Camden aka polarbear, Laura Mucha, Matt Goodfellow, Coral Rumble and Clare Dyer. The Poetry Society and the Forward Arts Foundation joined us to offer interactive activities.
Guests from schools across the country, grandparents and older communities were also given the opportunity to perform in the Great Hall. This iconic stage has been shared with incredible speakers such as Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and the Prince of Wales in the past.
On Thursday 21st November 2024, The Queen received 2024’s Poetry Together competition winners Colin Hinton, 92 and Avi Goel, 9, at Buckingham Palace to hear their Poetry Together winning poems. They were introduced by Gyles Brandreth and joined by Dukes Education’s Chairman and Founder, Aatif Hassan.
Her Majesty talked with Colin and Avi about their Poetry Together experience before listening to them perform their poems. Colin commented, “I was struck by how gracious Queen Camilla was, she made sure everyone felt special.” Avi said, “It’s been the best day. Queen Camilla was so warm and welcoming, and the biscuits were really good.”
Five schools and their care home partners came together for an afternoon of performing their poems to a very special guest – Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall. Gyles Brandreth hosted the event and the audience was treated to poems in English, Welsh, and even Polish. The students and care home residents were equally excited to recite their lines and The Duchess of Cornwall even took to the stage herself to perform ‘Matilda’ by Roald Dahl with students from Knightsbridge School. Finally, everyone settled down to enjoy well-deserved tea and cake and both young and old agreed that it had been a day to remember.
Register your school to take part in Poetry Together and to keep up to date with the campaign. You will also receive your free Poetry Together Kit.
Participation is completely free, open to all schools and elderly groups, and led by the school and care home themselves.
To find out more, visit the Poetry Together website, where you can register your school or care home. It’s free, fun, and a wonderful way to celebrate the magic of sharing poetry across generations.
