Four months after Tony Walsh’s rousing poem This Is The Place was heard from the steps of the Town Hall, Manchester welcomes back National Poetry Day.
Book worms from around the city will come together on St Peter’s Square at 11:45 on Thursday, September 28, to read for 10 minutes and spread the importance of putting down our gadgets and picking up some literature.
Drop Everything and Read, an event overseen by the National Literacy Trust as part of the Read Manchester campaign, will host local youth groups, business employees and residents of all ages.
With poems, novels, magazines and newspapers available to pick up and read, there is certainly something for everyone to enjoy.
Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Executive Member for Schools, Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council, expressed the importance of getting involved.
He said: “Literacy levels have been steadily improving over the last few years but we want to improve them still further.
“Reading for pleasure is key to helping with this, and I’m calling on everyone – young and old – to join me and give it a go by taking 10 minutes out of their day to drop everything they’re doing, and, wherever they are, pick up a book, a newspaper, or whatever else they’ve got to hand and just read.”
Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust, has also urged Mancunians to use the day to get back into the routine of reading.
He revealed: “In celebrating National Poetry Day, I hope lots of people across Manchester with consider using their 10 minutes to try reading poetry – a format of writing that comes in so many wonderful forms.
“Poems can be a great introduction for people who are new to reading or need some inspiration to start a regular reading habit.”
People who can’t make it to the event can still get in on the action.
You can use #readMCR to share the book you’re reading and join the many others taking part.
Image courtesy of Sarah Hemings via Twitter, with thanks.
