Three young aspiring poets have received some early presents this Christmas after winning a brand new bike in the VIRIDIS ‘Warm in Winter’ poetry competition.
Local kids, Hannah McAlinden (aged age 6, from Speke ), Lola-Mae Till (age 10, from Croxteth) and Veronica Olchowski (age 14, from Croxteth) were all winners in the competition, which asked young people across the Liverpool City Region to write a poem or rap about staying warm in the winter months.
The three winners all came together at a Liverpool City Centre Cycle shop to pick their prizes and will now have new bikes to enjoy during their Christmas holiday.
The poems were judged by Merseyside children’s writer Cathy Cassidy and Dr Jane Davis, Director of City of Readers and founder of The Reader Organisation.
Writer Cathy Cassidy sent a special message to all of the winners and all the aspiring young poets who entered the competition:
“Wow… it's brilliant to see that Liverpool has so many budding young poets! I loved reading the entries because there was some brilliantly wintry imagery… brrrrr!
“To all who have entered, please do go on writing… whether it's poetry, prose, song lyrics or maybe even a film script, keep on putting your ideas and images down on paper because every time you do that you are creating a little piece of magic! Plus, what better way to pass the winter days than curled up by the fire with a hot chocolate and a notebook, writing…”
The entries from the young people were fun and showed great creativity as well as an understanding of the importance of keeping warm to avoid falling ill in winter.
VIRIDIS Chairman and Liverpool Mutual Homes’ Assistant Director of Property Services, John Bowker said: “We had some really creative entries for the competition and it was great to read poems and raps that brought the subject of winter warmth to life.
“I hope that our winners enjoy their new bicycles, which are just in time for Christmas.
“The competition has been a great way for us to raise awareness of fuel poverty and the importance of keeping warm this winter.”
The competition was part of the Mersey-wide VIRIDIS Winter Warmth Campaign to tackle fuel poverty, backed by 16 local authorities and housing associations in the Liverpool City Region. The campaign consists of over 25 events, which are being held across the Liverpool City Region to raise awareness and offer help to local residents to stay warm and well in the winter months. http://www.viridisenergysaving.co.uk
The VIRIDIS Winter Warmth Campaign is sponsored by SP Energy Networks.
PHOTOGRAPH: Left to right: Hannah McAlinden, Paula Lowery (VIRIDIS Project Manager), Lola-Mae Till, John Bowker (VIRIDIS Chairman and LMH Assistant Director of Property Services), Ben Davis (The Reader Organisation’s Head of Marketing and Communications), Veronica Olchowski
Posted 2:54 PM | Permalink
TAGS: competition kids poetry viridis winter warmth warm in winter
