Children in care from Rochdale perform with award winning poet

Date published: 30 October 2009

Over twenty children in care from Rochdale are going to get a taste of university life and get the chance to perform alongside well-known Manchester poet Mike Garry.

The Years 5 and 6 pupils will visit Manchester Museum and the University of Manchester, in an initiative to improve the opportunities for young people from Rochdale.
The event is funded by Aimhigher Rochdale, a national programme that works to give confidence to young people to take what they love doing and build it into a career through Higher Education.

Fran Coltas from Aimhigher Rochdale explained that group meet on a regular basis to try and introduce looked after children and their carers to the idea of college and university. Ms Coltas said: “Helping looked after young people follow their dreams isn’t just about getting to university; it is about achieving their full potential.

“We want to inspire children and young people in care to consider going to university by showing them all the opportunities that are waiting for them. By working with inspiring and successful people like Mike Garry we can show them what can be achieved with hard work and self belief.”

Mike Garry has performed poetry since 1994, worked in hundreds of schools and held residencies in prisons, hospitals and art galleries. His work celebrates the beautiful ugliness of the city - his heroes are the underdogs and lost souls who wander the streets searching for answers.

The youngsters will be involved in different activities for two days and will put a performance together with Mike for their parents, carers and siblings.