"Poetry By Heart is designed to put the emphasis on learning by heart, not on learning by rote.  It is about understanding and remembering the deep recurring truths about our experience as humans, in terms that are especially beautiful and resonant.  It is about doing this in a pleasure-filled way.

"It has always been my hope in setting up Poetry by Heart that we would give young people the opportunity to enjoy a wider range of poetry than they usually find in their preparation for exams. We want to offer new ways of finding pleasure and confidence in a part of the curriculum where such things can be in short supply. The sort of pleasure and confidence, in fact, that adds tremendously to young people’s self-esteem, to their verbal skills, to their powers of communication, and so to a more fulfilled life and greater opportunities." 

– Andrew Motion

In addition to a national competition, there will be a number of events around the country, during which a contemporary poet will work with teachers on the process of learning poetry by heart - the deep engagement with a poem through memory and recitation. These events are being organized by NAWE, the Poetry Society and Writing West Midlands.

Further details will be publicized here in due course.

For full details of the project, visit www.poetrybyheart.org.uk