WRITE OFF RACISM
This was a brilliant project which resulted in some excellent poetry. The winners of the competition are pictured below along with their poems.

The above photo shows (from left to right) Aziz Mulla - winner in the 12-18 age group, Liyah Heyes (winner of the under 12s age group) and Sue Bain (winner in the over 18s age category).
 
The winning pieces of writing were:
 
Name: Liyah Heyes, from St Bedes, Age: 11
 
Racist
Religion is
Accepted
Culture is
Important
So
Talk to each other
 
Name: Aziz Mulla, from Gt Lever Youth Involvement Team, Age 15
 
Racism
 
I always knew I was out of place
But this was a strange, peculiar case,
I went into school with love and care,
Then came out with nothing, I was stripped bare
It started on Thursday when I had double PE
I was wearing my shorts and that was the key,
The key for the others to laugh and make fun
Of the colour of my skin and my lifestyle in one
 
So I hid it within and said nothing to concern,
I carried on my life, but then came to a turn
It was on the Monday when I have PSE
My teacher said, "hurry off to RE"
So I went with joy with a smile and no shame,
As I knew inside we are all the SAME!
 
Name: Susan Bain. from Great Lever Community Involvement Team, Adult
 
Thoughts on Racism
 
How far back do you need to go; ten, twenty or thirty years, before you sop being an immigrant? Do you have to be born here, your parents, grandparents? My typical white British Christian family; my oldest son with blond Viking looks, my youngest, dark Norman hair and eyes and my husband with his Celtic charm. We came here to escape religiouss persecution in the fifth century, after fifteen hundred years, are we still immigrants?
 
Cllr Rosa Kay presented the prizes and said:
 
"Well done The Write off Racism Project. The outstanding pieces of writing you have produced are both powerful and impressive. To see participants from diverse backgrounds and all ages sharing their readings is a shining example of Community Cohesion and understanding at its best. Thank you for sharing it with me".