#Chances4Children: Young people in Sheffield gain confidence through poetry

Sheffield’s Children in Care Council have been working with author and Sheffield Writer in Residence Nik Perring, and musician Dominic Heslop, over the lockdown period to create a book of poems and launch a writing competition.

The group of 13-18 year olds, who have all experienced the care system, have met with Nik and Dominic every week in lockdown on Zoom and it has transformed their writing.

Jane, aged 15, said: “It’s been fun and enjoyable. We have all supported each other and been kind and encouraging to each other, helping each other finish pieces when we get stuck.

“It’s changed my writing significantly. I feel much more confident and able to express myself. I want to keep writing. I love writing now. I feel like I am almost a writer.”

The group's poems are hosted on the Sheffield City Council website.

Councillor Jackie Drayton, Sheffield council cabinet member for children and families, said: “What a fantastic thing to have achieved during lockdown. The poems provide a real insight into what it’s like to be a child or young person in care.  Many thanks to Nik and Dominic and well done and congratulations to all those children and young people involved!”

Find out about CYP Now’s #Chances4Children campaign.

Here is one of the young people's poems:

Dear Society,

Listen up, listen up,

We are who we are, don’t try and change us into perfect people

I am not afraid of who I am

I am not afraid of your judgement

I am  as clever as everyone else

I am not the same as everyone else

So don’t compare me to others

I am my own person

I am special

I am not  distraction in class I am a learner with aspirations and goals

I will break the mould my family couldn’t

Don’t define me by my past

I am a rational autonomous being

Don’t judge a book by its cover

I am not a destructive youth

I am not different from my peers just because of my past

No I am different because I am me

And that’s something I’m proud to be

I am confident

I am not afraid to stand up for myself

And I am not afraid of other people

Because I am not a horrible person who cares only for myself

I don’t silently judge others

I am love

I am dreams

I am hope

I am not your stereotype

Our Sheffield is a peaceful city,

It’s Ours,

Our Sheffield is big,

It’s a friendly person,

It’s a shop called game,

Our Sheffield is the mighty blades

It’s adventures in the Peak District,

It’s beauty in buildings and people,

Our Sheffield is buying what you fancy,

It’s Northern Grit,

It’s the understated,

And Kindness

Our Sheffield is giggling on the Supertram

And Pretzels at Meadowhall

It’s pigeons everywhere

It’s friends

It’s us

It’s you

It’s art