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27.
September
2017.
Grenfell poem commended in mental health poetry competition

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27 September 2017

For immediate release

Moving Grenfell Poem commended in mental health poetry competition

A singer/songwriter from Notting Hill has been commended for her Grenfell poem that she submitted to ‘Healing Words,' a mental health poetry competition run by the Advocacy Project and supported by Central North West London Foundation Trust and West London Mental Health Trust.

Zakiya Forde, 27, a brand consultant and singer/songwriter from Notting Hill, will be commended for her moving poem in the final of ‘Healing Words'; a mental health poetry competition which begins at 6pm on Thursday 28 at City Hall.

Zakiya explains that her submission is an enduring tribute to those who lost their lives in the tragedy, those of which include an old school friend and her friend's mother;

"As a native of Notting Hill I was deeply saddened and affected by the tragic events that took place on June 14 2017.

"I really wrote this poem to express the aftermath and to remind people that the pain of losing loved ones doesn't have to be in vain that us as a people should continue to band together and uplift one another, and never forget the day the world stood still for London."

Her poem, The Power of Us, can be read here:

The Power of Us

It's hard to see how we can ever see the brightness in the sky again when dark days ahead of us cloud our every thought.

Who knew today is where we would be

We hold tight to those we love and even those we've lost nothing can deter the power of the people the power of us. 

So, take a moment to understand the pain to acknowledge there are laughs we will never hear again, stand strong for the lovers and stand strong for our sons, stand strong for our daughters uncles, aunties and mums for the power of the people the power of us this moment took away love and mostly our trust.

 

Over 150 poets will be attending the awards ceremony at City Hall on Thursday the 28 September at 6pm, including VIP guests. Actress and writer Joanna Scanlan will perform the winning entries.

 

Editor's notes:
 
Attached is a photograph of Zakiya Forde who wrote the poem.  

For media enquiries, photographs and press passes please contact:

Jessica.Cooke3@nhs.net

02032145763

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Stephenson House, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL
Tel: 020 3214 5756 e-mail:
communications.cnwl@nhs.net