ISLE OF MAN POETRY SOCIETY TO EXPAND CHILDREN'S POETRY TRAIL 2024

The Isle of Man Poetry Society have received a grant of £413 from Manx Lottery Trust to support the Children's Poetry Trail (CPT) 2024. This year's trail promises to be bigger and better, featuring a vibrant display of young poetic talent throughout Douglas City Centre.

Building on the success of the 2022 trail, the CPT 2024 will showcase 15 winning poems on A4 posters displayed in the windows of shops, cafes, and libraries across Douglas. Each winning poet will receive an A3 presentation poster of their poem, with 15 highly commended prizes and participation certificates awarded to all entrants. The posters will be designed by Tony Garland, who is returning to create visually engaging displays.

The Poetry Society, led by Bethany De-Leigh-Runciman, is targeting Year 5 and 6 pupils (from September) and will run workshops in schools to help students craft their entries. Workshops will also be held at the Family Library and Castletown Library, with the Junior Manx Bards participating to inspire and guide the young poets.

All submitted poems will be compiled into an anthology titled "Young Reflections 2," which will be available for purchase by parents, teachers, and bookstores. The deadline for entries is September 20th, with the launch event for the winning poems scheduled for October 19th at the Family Library.

The Poetry Trail will run from 26th October to 23rd November, including the half-term holiday.

Bethany de Legh-Runciman, who organises the trail, said: “We are thrilled to receive this grant from Manx Lottery Trust. The support will enable us to expand our poetry trail and provide more opportunities for young poets to showcase their work. We look forward to celebrating their creativity and inspiring a love for poetry in our community.”

Stephen Turner, Chairman of Manx Lottery Trust, added: “We are delighted to support the Isle of Man Poetry Society with this grant. The Children’s Poetry Trail is a fantastic initiative that encourages young people to engage with poetry and express their creativity. We are excited to see the impact this project will have on the local community and the young poets involved.”

The Smaller Grants Programme is available for grants of between £300 and £2,500. We aim to fund projects that address the issues, needs, and aspirations of local communities and people.