Reported at Happynews.com, award winning poet Paul Farley helped give a boost to a project that supports homeless youth throughout Great Britain. Farley judged a poetry contest sponsored by UK”s Foyer Network, and held workshops for the winning poets. Foyers is a UK based program that gives homeless youth, ages 16-25, a place to call home and the supports they need to step out of misfortune and into adult life with the tools they need to succeed. Founded in 1992, Foyers now has 130 local programs that offer more than just a bed.

The program goes beyond breakfast and a job interview as well. Their web site, giveusavoice.net, is committed to giving Foyers youth – nearly 10,000 of them – a place where they can be heard. The site features a whole section of poetry written by Foyers youth and submitted for the Foyers contest. Farley, at a reading that highlighted poetry by the program”s clients, said, “It is an honour to be part of a poetry scheme which makes a real attempt to offer something back to young people at risk by supporting the talents of a future generation of writers who may otherwise be denied opportunities to find their voice.

“I hope my contribution will attract more young people in Foyers to explore the power of poetry, and look forward to seeing the competition entries.”

Farley has published two award winning volumes of poetry, The Boy from the Chemist is Here to See You (1998), and The Ice Age (2002). He was named Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year in 1999, won the prestigious Whitbread Award for poetry in 2003, and was named as one of the Poetry society”s “Next Generation” poets in 2004. He has also published a play broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

Check out what these young poets are writing about and thinking at Foyer Residents Poetry…. and consider how your own voice can help others be heard. Poetry can help open doors – and keep them open. Helping a young person find a voice and use it can be one of the most rewarding gifts that a poet can give.