Cheadle high school student wins national poetry competition

Home news

May 24, 2018

A poem written by a Cheadle high school student has won a national poetry competition.

To celebrate World Poetry Day, Care UK organised a national poetry competition, encouraging care home residents and community members to put pen to paper to create their own short verses and poems.

For several weeks, residents at Abney Court met with a group of Kingsway School students. After gathering the residents’ most treasured memories, the students marked the World Poetry Day celebrations by turning these memories into poetry and reading them aloud to the residents.Residents and pupils also worked together on a join poem called “What we call home”.

Akira Edgson’s poem, written for resident Pat Nugent about her memories and what life is a like at Abney Court, won over the judges’ hearts and gained first place in the national competition.

Home manager, Tracy Mitchell said: “We are beyond excited that Akira’s poem has won Care UK’s poetry competition. It’s a beautifully worded poem and Pat was thrilled to see her memories turned into poetry.

“Our World Poetry Day celebrations are a great example of how activity based care at Abney Court supports residents to continue enjoying their passions and hobbies. Intergenerational relationships have been proven to be beneficial to older people, and the residents truly enjoyed sharing their memories with the Kingsway School students.”