Exploring The Meanings of Identity through Poetry - A Workshop Series

Have you ever considered how poetry can bring together people from different backgrounds and identities?

At Civil Society Consulting, we’ve been rolling out 32 Steps to Togetherness for the past two years, an initiative to build connections within and between communities. Through our work, we have identified the deep need for connection, belonging and community, which is why we’re building a civil society movement that brings together social action leaders and grassroots organisations working to foster social cohesion. As authoritarianism and division rise globally, we believe poetry has the potential to spark dialogue, inspire creativity, and cultivate deeper understanding.

As part of this initiative, we launched a national poetry challenge last year under the theme of "Togetherness." This year, our theme, "Decolonising Minds and Shared Identities”, aims to highlight our interconnectedness and explore new narratives and ways of thinking that uplift and celebrate both our differences and shared experiences.

Among the talented poets shortlisted in our 2024 Togetherness Poetry Challenge, Steve Lott stood out with his poem, “Community Expression Session” - a beautiful tribute to diversity and unity. Now, he’s hosting a free, four-part poetry workshop series, inviting participants to reflect on the meanings of identity through writing, reflection, and shared discussion.

About the workshops

New to poetry? This space is also for you! Whether you’re a beginner, a seasoned writer, or simply poetry-curious, these workshops are designed to be open, accessible, and welcoming to all.

• Engaging and interactive sessions - structured with an icebreaker, a main activity, and plenty of time for writing and discussion
• Themes exploring identity - each session will reflect on different aspects of life that shape who we are
• A space for creativity and connection - write, share, and engage with others in a supportive environment
• Accessible for all - whether you need inspiration, a space to start writing, or just a fresh perspective, these workshops are for you!

When?

The workshops will be held online via Zoom on the following dates:

Saturday 05.04, 16.00-17.30 - The importance of place

Saturday 19.05, 16.00-17.30 - I am who I am

Saturday 03.05, 16.00-17.30 - The conflict within

Saturday 24.04, 16.00-17.30 - The importance of people

Join us and discover how poetry can inspire, empower, and connect us all!

Can’t make it? Join our mailing list to stay updated on future events.

About Steve Lott

Steve is an English teacher with over thirty years’ experience in the classroom. In that time, he has written for and edited English teaching journals and has been part of a study into boys’ writing skills. He is passionate about poetry and enjoys writing poems as a hobby. Steve has always been interested in writing. He has been writing poetry on and off, all of his adult life. His poetry stems from personal and everyday experiences, what he’s read in a paper, an overheard conversation – that he then embellishes, his family’s situations, or simply how he’s feeling. He is married to Jen, and has three children. 

About Civil Society Consulting

Civil Society Consulting CIC (CSC) is a non-profit working across the UK, with strong connections in the North East, North West and East of England, as well as in London where we are based. In a nutshell: we want health, equality and social solidarity (cohesion). We believe that restoring a sense of community and developing communities is the key, and therefore that the voluntary community sector (VCS) is key! We aim to strengthen the VCS sector by being a reliable source of excellent support for VCS organisations, which is either affordable (to medium-sized and larger organisations) or free (to small, grassroots organisations led by and for marginalised communities).

About 32 Steps to Togetherness

The UK is experiencing high levels of loneliness across all age groups and social fragmentation is on the rise. Civil Society Consulting has developed a resource for combating loneliness and social fragmentation from the bottom up - through small but significant actions. The 32 Steps manual provides practical suggestions for how we, as individuals and community leaders, can build connections within and between communities, setting out ideas for how to change our thinking habits, foster community connections, encourage workplace inclusivity, and recognise the political nature of building diverse social networks. For the past two years, CSC has provided free support to organisations and running events to spread a spirit of togetherness.