Chance for some well-versed co-operation

The Unity Sculpture on The Esplanade

Budding poets from around the borough have the chance to showcase their talents and win a great prize into the bargain.

To celebrate the International Year of Co-operatives, People’s Poetry 2012 is calling on residents to compose a poem inspired by Alex Peever’s Unity Sculpture on The Esplanade in Rochdale which symbolises the value of co-operation.

A selection of the best entries will be displayed in Rochdale Central Library in the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre and Touchstones Rochdale with visitors being invited to vote for their favourite. Later the poems will be on show at Heywood and Middleton libraries while an anthology will also be published.

There is a cash prize of £100 for the winning author, kindly donated by the Co-operative Members Group for Rochdale, together with a one-to-one poetry mentoring session courtesy of the Maskew Collection.

Organised by Rochdale Borough Council and its leisure and cultural trust, Link4Life, People’s Poetry 2012 will give residents of the World Capital of Co-operatives the chance to show what co-operation means to them.

Councillor Peter Williams, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Customer Services, said: “Our borough has produced some wonderful poets over the years and this competition offers people the chance to continue the tradition.

“There can be no better topic to inspire writers than that of co-operation which has such historic links with Rochdale and which continues to enrich the lives of millions of people around the world.”

For more information on People’s Poetry 2012 please pick up an entry form at your local library, Touchstones Rochdale, email peoplespoetry@link4life.org