​In a society obsessed by youth it can be hard to view the onset of grey hairs and wrinkles with hope, but the Bible says that grey hair is a crown of splendour.

​As a charity working towards a world where older people are valued, connected and full of hope, we believe there is hope, joy and fulfilment in ageing: that life in all its fullness extends into our later years.

​"Grey hair is a crown of splendour..."

So we're running a poetry competition with the theme of
​“Hope in Ageing”.
​The closing date has now passed and we have been delighted to receive over 200 entries.
Winners and shortlisted poems to be announced on
VERY SOON - watch this space

POETRY COMPETITION

Hope in Ageing 

The competition was open to anyone aged over 50 to write a poem on the theme of hope in ageing.
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WINNERS AND SHORTLISTED POEMS TO BE ANNOUNCED VERY SOON

• Shortlisted poems will be published in an anthology
​
• The winning poems will be read on Premier Radio by Pam Rhodes.

Meet the Judges

We are delighted to introduce you to the judges of the Hope in Ageing Poetry Competition

PAM RHODES

For more than three decades, Pam has been the familiar face of BBC Television’s ‘SONGS OF PRAISE’, presenting programmes from tiny country churches to huge outside broadcasts. She’s met a wide range of people from Pope John Paul II to Dolly Parton - but her heart is in the sensitive interviews for which she’s well-known, as she encourages those she meets to share their stories.

For many years, Pam has also been presenting 8 popular radio programmes each week for PREMIER CHRISTIAN RADIO (‘HEARTS AND HYMNS’ and ‘ALL TOGETHER NOW’) – as well as producing for PREMIER the weekly online television magazine programme, SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE, which she presents from home.

Pam will be 73 this year, yet is still working with as much enthusiasm as ever, believing that, as long as you’re able, you should live every minute of your life! She’s delighted to be asked to join the judging panel for our poetry competition. She says she’s not looking for great literary skill, but words that touch the heart, lift the spirit, inform the mind – and make us smile.

DAVE BILBROUGH

A troubadour of grace, Dave carries five decades of experience in the worship arena.  Abba Father, All Hail the Lamb, I am a New Creation and Let there be Love are just some of his songs that have been sung worldwide by Christians of all denominations.  Alongside his music he is in regular demand as a seminar speaker on things related to worship.  As an award-winning artist, he has embraced various diverse musical styles on his journey and has a passion to see innovative expressions of creativity across the creative arts.

Says Dave,  "The words in the songs that I write and listen to have always been important to me. Turns of phrase, interesting unusual observations even of the seemingly mundane can bring fresh light and introduce a new perspective and a new way of seeing things.
I’ve even at times experienced profound Holy moments of awe and wonder as I’ve stopped to reflect on images that word pictures can create.
I’m really looking forward with eager anticipation to being enlightened,entertained and refreshed in my soul as you share your feelings and recollections in poetic form."

AMANDA ROOT

Amanda is a professional actor and has performed in numerous theatre, film
and TV roles. She has worked extensively with the RSC, as well as in the West End and on Broadway. Amanda can be seen in the film “ALLELUJAH” which will be released in cinemas in March.

Amanda founded TALITHA ARTS Charity in 2010 integrating the skills of dancers, musicians, actors and artists to create dynamic and therapeutic arts workshops that generate a sense of value and worth for those those have experienced trauma or abuse and for those living with dementia.
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Amanda is passionate about speaking poetry and verse, and believes that
hearing and embodying the sounds, rhythms and flow of language is key to
unlocking meaning.

Amanda feels very honoured to be one of the judges for the poetry competition. She believes the theme 'Hope in Ageing’ will challenge and stimulate and she looks forward to reading the different perspectives and insights. Amanda says, "a poem doesn’t have to be 'perfect' to touch you!"