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Gyles Brandreth is the Founder of Poetry Together, an education initiative run by Dukes Education and also wonderfully supported by HM The Queen. Poetry Together aims to unite young and old through the joy of poetry, promoting all the wonderful benefits that come from learning poetry, alongside those to be gained from younger and older people working together.
On 11th November over 1,000 people came together at the prestigious Central Hall Westminster to immerse themselves in all things poetry. They enjoyed workshops and performances from top poets such as Joseph Coelho, Steve Camden and Laura Mucha. Some of our guests took the opportunity to perform in the Great Hall themselves and did a marvellous job and students from Dukes Education schools, Broomwood, Eaton Square Prep and The Lyceum were also among the performers. Poetry Together’s partners, The Poetry Society and the Forward Arts Foundation also attended and offered immersive poetry activities to the guests.
The event promoted the Poetry Together initiative which encourages younger and older communities to connect and recite poetry together over tea and cake. The project sees schools going into care homes all over the country with incredible beneficial outcomes for both children and older people.
There is a lot of research on the benefits of reciting poetry – marry that with the value of intergenerational connection and the result is really quite special.
