Mum and Daughter Win Poetry and Help Mental Health & Well-Being
By Community Correspondent
A mother and daughter from Liverpool are thrilled having both won 1st prize in their categories in a poetry competition.
A lifelong lover of words, Linda is overjoyed to be recognized as a poet at 75 years old despite her ongoing health struggles.
Angela Cheveau stated, “I am completely bowled over to have won, but to have won alongside my mum is special beyond words. It’s given her something to focus on again and made her feel a part of something special.
"Having a brain injury had a tremendously negative effect on Mums general wellbeing and mental health and this competition could not have come at a better time. A lifelong lover of words, Mum always wanted to be a published poet. Giving her this opportunity and for her to be recognised as a poet despite all that has happened to her is something we will never forget.
"I can’t thank you enough this is truly priceless. We are overjoyed and honoured to have been a part of this."
Linda is 75 and suffered two strokes when she was only 34. She recovered from them in the main, however in 2020 she had a traumatic fall which left her with a brain bleed amongst other severe injuries.
This brought back the damage she had suffered in her 30s and has had a tremendously negative effect on her general wellbeing and mental health.
Having volunteered for charities previously, the community poetry competition run by Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton and Wordcraft Workshops helped to spark her imagination and that of people young and old across the Northwest and further afield.
Angela and Linda’s poetry caught the attention of the judges who placed them both as winners in their categories and hadn’t realised they were related until final names were listed.
Baraah, winner of the children’s category was inspired by her grandma who told her stories as she was growing up.
Julie Jackson, Fundraising Manager from Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton said, “The competition was about engaging with, and connecting people through poetry, helping to boost their mental health and wellbeing over the winter months. The response has been amazing, so many of the poems tell such heartwarming stories and show the impact connecting with people has on your life. It’s been a privilege to be part of this.”
The oldest person in the Northwest, 111-year-old Marjorie Hodnett Aylward helped to judge the shortlisted poems for the children’s category.
A retired schoolteacher, writer and poet, ‘Aunt Marj’ (as she’s affectionately known), is an avid poetry enthusiast and submitted her own poem into the competition ‘rough seas.’
To read the winning poems visit: https://ageconcernliverpoolandsefton.org.uk/together-in- verse-poetry-competition-2025/
A number of local schools submitted entries including Holly Lodge Girls’ College and a reception class from Kingsley Primary, L8. The 3 winners from Holly Lodge School were personally presented by Aunt Marj at the Formby Care Home this week.
Laura Ferries, local poet and founder of Wordcraft Workshops;
“I felt that partnering with a charity that supports older people locally who might struggle with their mental health and wellbeing over the winter months was perfect direction for my work and am so pleased that the competition has been so well received by all ages.”
“Thanks so much for giving our girls the opportunity to participate in this amazing
competition. ‘Together in Verse’ has helped the students at Holly Lodge Girls’ College to explore the concept of ageing and growing up, whilst allowing them to be creative and share their ideas.
The students have loved getting involved and writing their poems. The winners
thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet Aunt Marj, I’m certain it’s a memory that will last a lifetime for them - it’s not every day they get to meet someone 100 years older than them!” (Holly Lodge Girls’ College, Liverpool)
“The children of Kingsley Community School have been excited and honoured to take part in this competition, raising awareness of an incredibly important charity such as Age Concern. We all have older figures in our lives who have created an indelible, priceless impact on us, and it's been wonderful to witness some of the youngest members of our community reflecting on the importance and significance of the older people in their lives, and expressing their feelings through poetry in sincere and heartfelt ways. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to take part - and a big Kingsley Happy Birthday to Aunt Marj, 111 years young!” (Kingsley Community School)
For more information about the services we provide at Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton, visit: ageconcernliverpoolandsefton.org.uk or call 0151 330 5678.
Subscribe today in just 30 seconds to support our mission.
📢 Subscribe & be part of the movement:
👉 https://www.goodnewspost.co.uk/#/portal/
OUR VISION: A PEOPLE-FIRST WORLD NEWS
The world is drowning in bad news. Anxiety, fear, and negativity dominate headlines. Social media fuels 24/7 doomscrolling, and a mental health crisis is spiraling out of control.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. IT’S TIME TO FIGHT BACK.
That's why we created The Good News Post—a positive news ecosystem designed to put people first and inspire a world that is:
Deliberately social media-free. Join us where real connection happens
