Local writer Alan Dawson, the man behind the #madeinmansfield initiative – a poetry project that aims to showcase all that is positive about Mansfield and Ashfield – writes his first column of 2021.

There has been a positive start to 2021 for the residents of Clipstone – at long last, after many years of negotiation, confusion and frustration, the former Clipstone Colliery headstocks site has been sold to Acdo Properties Ltd, Mansfield. The company is intending to restore/ renovate the area, including the splendid Bauhaus architecture, for use as a multi-purpose leisure facility.

Hopefully, this will bring visitors into the village, which will fortify Clipstone businesses and help to kick-start the local economy – as well as providing employment opportunities.

All good there…

***

I realise that parents/ carers may be finding it difficult with home-schooling, for I work in a school myself. The poetry initiative would be a good project for young people who are interested in writing poetry about the local Mansfield area. Contact me for a worksheet to support the writing at [email protected]

***

The poem that is featured this week was written by four young teenagers from Clipstone who care a lot about their local community – Ellie, May, Ellie, and Faith

Deborah Hill, from the Clipstone Colliery Regeneration Group, sent a screen shot of the poem after the young people had enjoyed a workshop last year with performance poet and writer from Derby, Sophie Sparham.

Ellie, May, Ellie, and Faith should be proud of their collaboration. They are obviously proud of their community and through their writing they encourage resilience against the tough times the village is experiencing, and they are obviously ready to roll up their sleeves and fight for future of their community.

For me, this poem is telling and shows the importance of the young and old being together to create the cement that holds communities tight.

I have pasted the screenshot straight into this article as it was sent – poems do not have to be written on a keyboard – use whatever is at hand.