We are pleased to announce the winner of Poetry for SE Day competition is social entrepreneur Sheila McGill from Sheffield.

Sheila who found herself compelled to write poetry as an emotional release when her Mum was terminally ill, works in health and fitness, mentoring young people and groups and is growing a Campaign .
Stop Before You Start to encourage young people to lead healthier lives; using poetry as a tool.
“Shortly before my dad died from lung cancer, within one year of my mum, I asked him if he had any advice for young people and after some thought he said quite simply Stop Before You Start.  Both my parents tried unsuccessfully to stop smoking and it was with this in mind that my campaign to do something was started. It is also why I am particularly keen to include smokers in my campaign, as this is about working together to equip young people to say NO so they will never have to stop.”

Sheila added
To be able to add ‘winner of the Social Enterprise Poetry Competition 2011′ is incredibly exciting, fortuitous and appropriate for SBYS

The winning poem “Growing” will be read by Sheila at the Diversity in Social Enterprise Conference on Thursday 17 November and will be published on this website the same day.

Judge and Peterborough Poet Laureate 2010  Nikki DiGiovani said
“We could not have had a more appropriate winner for our first year of Poetry for Social Enterprise Day 2011.”

Poetry 4 SE Day was developed by Social Enterprise Norfolk  as part of Global Entrepreneurship week 2011 to celebrate the diversity and value of social enterprises across the UK.  Next years competition Poetry 4 SE day opens on 1st September 2012, Below is winning poet Sheila McGill and Judge / poet laureate Nikki DiGiovani

For further information please email us at poetry4seday@gmail.com