Gyles Brandreth and ITV's This Morning launch intergenerational Poetry Together competition

Writer and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth has launched this year’s poetry writing competition where the winners will get the opportunity to read their poems live on ITV’s This Morning.

This year’s theme is laughter and tears where school children and anyone over the age of 65 are invited to submit their own poems whilst encouraging others to "share the joy of poetry".

Those shortlisted will attend a finals day in early November in Cambridge where an illustrious panel of judges including Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, poet and author Lucy Cuthew and Gyles Brandreth will pick the overall winners.

Mr Brandreth said: “They can perform poetry that’s already written – or create their own. That’s the extra challenge we’re adding this year. Write a short poem, funny or sad, the winners of our competition will get to perform it on TV.

“Poetry Together is all about young people and old people getting together and having fun through poetry and everyone can share their own compositions at a Poetry Together tea party.”

Poetry Together was founded by poetry-lover Mr Brandreth in 2019 who was inspired by research that proved learning poetry by heart has beneficial effects on cognitive function for young and old alike.

In his book ‘Dancing by the Light of the Moon’, he shares his thoughts on why poetry is good for the brain, his passion for poetry and how anyone at any age can challenge themselves to learn a poem.

Poetry Together has been supported by Dukes Education since its inception and has always had the support of Her Royal Highness The Queen Consort.

In 2019, carehome.co.uk took a group of care home residents and primary school children to London where they joined The Queen Consort and Mr Brandreth in a celebration of reciting ‘Poetry Together’.

The performances took place at a school in Piccadilly where she performed one of her favourite poems Matilda by Hilaire Belloc with pupils from a local school.

'It is a fantastic initiative'

Aatif Hassan, chairman and founder of Dukes Education said: "Dukes Education is delighted to continue to support Poetry Together as it grows year on year.

"It is a fantastic initiative that proves not only the health and wellbeing benefits of learning and reciting poetry out loud but the social benefits too; bringing people together to share the joy of poetry is at the very heart of Poetry Together’s mission."

The poetry writing competition is open to all children in primary and secondary schools aged five to 18 and is open to everyone over the age of 65.

The task is to write a funny or sad poem (or both) of no longer than 14 lines.

Poems must be submitted to Poetry Together by a deadline of 12pm on Tuesday 25 October. Shortlisted finalists will travel to Cambridge for a competition day at Sancton Wood School on Tuesday 1 November.

Mr Hassan added: “This year poetry lovers of all ages will have the chance to write their own poems. Good luck to everyone and I look forward to hearing some of the new compositions soon.”

Poems must be submitted to poetrytogether@dukeseducation.com by 12pm on Tuesday 25 October.