Lead Contact: Angie Weatherhead, Community Librarian.
Name of Event: Inspired by Torbay
Location: Paignton Library and Torbay Coast and Countryside Venue at Berry Head
Description: A workshop that works with the Poetry for Pleasure group. They will visit Berry
Head in Torbay with facilitator Helen Ashley, and they will be encouraged to write poetry inspired
by the landscape.
Objectives and Outcomes:
1. To give members of an existing poetry group the chance to take part in a professionally run
workshop with a poet Helen Ashley.
For example, as well as visiting an area of great natural beauty, Helen provided participants
with a variety of different resources, including poems that had been inspired by the heritage
of the Torbay area. She also used prompt sheets to encourage an awareness of the sensual
experience of the landscape, asking what they could touch, hear and smell.
2. To produce a body of work that can be displayed in libraries to help raise the profile of the
Poetry for Pleasure group.
All in all, the group produced eight final drafts of poems about Berry Head and the
surrounding landscape for display in Paignton Library. The effect of this is twofold, as it
showcases a library based group, while encouraging people to think of their library as a hub
of activity that reaches beyond borrowing books. Several of those in attendance were already
part of the group, though there were two who were keen to join as a result of the workshop
with Helen.
3. To encourage people to use their local library for other activities.
While half of those asked had used their library for other activities in the past, half had not,
indicating that the workshop reached a new audience.
Feedback from Participants:
100% of participants said they were very satisfied with the event.
100% rated it as extremely enjoyable.
Two thirds of participants said they planned to build on the activity either by
attending workshops or being part of the Poetry for Pleasure group.
Benefits included:
‘Enjoying the beauty and tranquillity of a local area’ - Participant
‘Meeting new people, and a health benefit’ - Participant
‘Activity, well run, well organised, friendly and fun.’ – Participant