Boxing champion uses poetry to inspire artists in Barrow

Matt Windle, who is also a former Birmingham Poet Laureate, has joined the Barrow Dreams project along with artists Sarah Hardacre, Milly Rolle and Rich Rusk.

They are running workshops encouraging Barrow people to tell stories of the town’s past, present and future as part of BarrowFull’s aim to increase participation in the arts.

Matt said: "My time in Barrow will see me work with local men as we explore short forms of poetry and spoken word.

"The sessions are designed to engage everyday people, regardless of whether they have a history of being creative or have never put pen to paper in their life.”

Matt will be combining his love of boxing and poetry to inspire other people (Image: BarrowFull)

He has already started working with men in the area aged 20-59 on the ‘Present’ element of the project.

“I quickly learnt that Barrovians are rightfully proud of where they are from and this project allows them to show that off.

"I will be alongside the members of the group every step of the way and with over 16 years experience, I'm confident that I can help even the most reluctant writer to create pieces of work that they can be proud of.”

Phase one of Matt’s work ends in June at Barrow AFC where the men’s poetry will be written across the pitch of the Holker Street stadium as part of an exhibition.

While Matt and his poets focus on the present, artists Milly Rolle and Rich Rusk have started working with teenagers and older adults to imagine the future.

Creative workshops with Barrovians aged 11-19 and over 60 will inspire short films produced during the summer, which will be shared using Virtual Reality headsets.

Women will be invited to work with Sarah Hardacre when she begins the Past part of the project this March.

Artist Sarah Hardacre is inviting Barrovian women to Reclaim The Past as part of the Barrow (Image: Submitted)

She will be researching and uncovering stories of Barrow’s 'extraordinary and ordinary' women, which will culminate with a celebration in the streets of all the women of Barrow who 'make the town one to be proud of'.