Empowering Young Voices Through the Power of Spoken Poetry
At The Josephine Hart Poetry Foundation, we are passionate about the transformational power of poetry. Our mission is simple but profound: to unlock the creative potential in every young person by encouraging them to read and perform poetry aloud. We believe that poetry is not just words on a page but a living, breathing art form that has the power to transform young people and help them value and understand the world they’re growing up in.
Who We Are
The Josephine Hart Poetry Foundation was established to honor the legacy of the late Josephine Hart, a celebrated author and poetry advocate who believed deeply in the importance of sharing poetry with others. Inspired by her vision, our foundation is dedicated to bringing poetry to life for young people across the UK. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to discover the beauty of language and the power of self-expression that poetry uniquely provides.
What We Do
Our flagship initiative, Power of Poetry, brings the transformational power of poetry into schools throughout the UK. We collaborate with well-known actors and experienced directors to run poetry performance competitions and workshops in schools. Students are invited to choose a poem from a wide range of classical poets, including Christina Rossetti, John Milton, William Blake, and T.S. Eliot. They then perform their chosen poem in front of our panel, which includes the actor and our director.
The winners of these competitions receive personalized coaching in performance techniques such as tone, projection, movement, and facial expressions. This coaching not only enhances their poetry recitation but also builds their confidence and communication skills. As a highlight, these young performers are given the opportunity to showcase their talents at our highly popular Poetry Hour events, where they perform in front of live audiences, sharing the stage with professional poets and actors.
Why Your Support Is Needed
We are deeply committed to expanding the reach of our Power of Poetry program, but we need your help to do so. While the benefits of our work are evident, running these programs requires significant resources. From funding school visits to organising Poetry Hour events, every aspect of our work relies on the generosity of donors like you.
Your donation will enable us to bring our program to more schools, reaching more children and giving them the tools they need to succeed both academically and personally. Poetry is a powerful educational tool that helps students develop self-confidence, creative understanding, and a deeper appreciation for literature and how it connects to the world around them. Teachers have consistently communicated that participation in poetry recital boosts attainment at all levels of ability, enriching the educational experience and helping students find their unique voices and sense of personal empowerment.
The Impact of Your Donation
By supporting The Josephine Hart Poetry Foundation, you are not just helping to run a program—you are investing in the future of young people across the UK. Involvement in the arts and culture is crucial to fostering imagination, self-expression, and creativity. These are the skills that fuel the success of the UK’s creative industries and will lead to the next generation of artistic and creative talent.
Your donation will have a lasting impact, helping us to continue our work of inspiring young people and making poetry a living, breathing part of their lives. Together, we can ensure that more children experience the joy of discovering themselves in a poem, the thrill of performance, and the profound connection that poetry creates.
Our actors do not get paid for their time, but generously offer their presence for expenses only. Your donation will help to cover actors' travel expenses, the attendance of the foundation's director, the cost of book token prizes for the children, travel expenses for the children to attend a performance, and any props/costume items the children may need. Each child who participates costs approximately £25, so even a one-off donation like this could provide an incredible opportunity for a child.
Thank you for considering a donation to The Josephine Hart Poetry Foundation. With your help, we can continue to improve lives, one poem at a time.
In the event that we exceed fundraising targets through Crowdfunder, all funding will be used to increase our reach and work with a greater number of children.