4 March, 2026
Poetic Place: Finding Voice in the Borough
Poetic Place has been popping up across the borough, inviting people to write, share and listen. I sat down with producer Jordan to talk about why it feels urgent, generous and quietly radical.
Q: You’ve been connected to Havering for a long time. How did that shape this project?
I moved here just before secondary school and went all the way through the borough. When I was 15, my art teacher secretly submitted me for Havering Young Artist of the Year. I won my age category. That moment changed everything. My parents saw that creativity wasn’t just a hobby. It was possible. So being able to create something like Poetic Place here feels full circle.
Q: What made poetry the right vehicle?
I love lots of art forms. I’m a bit of a jack of all trades. But poetry has this low barrier to entry and huge emotional reach. I’d seen that at open mics in East London. When I was asked what I might propose for Havering London, I knew raising people’s voices had to be at the heart of it.
Q: What’s been the most powerful moment so far?
There have been loads. An elderly man at a workshop recently really bared his soul and said he hadn’t done that before. Two young men travelled from Croydon, two and a half hours each way, just to come to an open mic. That says something. Often people arrive hesitant, a bit guarded. By the end, they’re asking, “Is that it?” They want more.
Q: How do you create a space where that can happen?
We make it free. That’s important. Accessibility isn’t just about ramps, it’s about money. We lay out huge sheets of paper and say, write, draw, scribble. We won’t judge it. You don’t have to perform. You can sit and listen. It’s about gentle encouragement, not pressure. There’s a sense of play. Once people realise there’s no right way to do it, something unlocks.
Q: The word ‘place’ feels loaded. What does it mean here?
Havering isn’t one thing. Romford feels different to a small village with a parish hall. Elm Park has its own rhythm. It’s lots of places within half an hour of each other. The poetry reflects that variety. Different identities, different generations, different stories. All intersecting.
Q: What’s next?
Our final celebration, as part of ‘A Good Life’ Day.:
Poetic Place proves that when you give people time, tools and trust, they will speak. And Havering is listening.