National Poetry Day is the biggest mass celebration of poetry in the UK and this year it occurs on Thursday 1st October 2026.
This year, Walsall Community Transport, who are part of Transport West Midlands and the West Midlands Combined Authority, appointed their first ever Poet Laureate to promote mental health.
The scheme is to run across their Let`s Chat Community Hubs in Walsall and West Bromwich and located at Walsall Bus Station and West Bromwich Bus Station.
The first incumbent to hold the role of Poet Laureate is Ian Henery who ran creative writing workshops at Walsall Town Hall recently for Walsall MakerFest with Walsall Archives, host of the Jack Haddock Collection. This valuable community resource is being developed with the support of a £249,020 grant from the National Heritage Lottery Fund. The first collection to be made available focuses on the community transport of Walsall`s canals and railways. These were used as poetry prompts by Ian Henery in Walsall Town Hall for the Walsall MakerFest 2026.
"I wanted to create a legacy of what we were doing for National Poetry Day 2026" said Ian. "It was full on in Walsall Town Hall with families joining me for the creative writing workshops. The youngest participant I had was only 4 years old and she offered a unique insight into the creative process. There were a lot of people having a go who had never tried poetry before and enjoyed the experience. We had great feedback from the public".
Ian was keen to develop the process and create a community poem to celebrate the event in Walsall Town Hall for National Poetry Day 2026. "I wanted journeys of hope to reflect the wonderous stories of wonderful Walsall" he said "for National Poetry Day whose theme is wonder."
Ian has been nominated Creative, Arts & Media Personality of the Year in the inaugral Walsall Awards which are being held on 21st November 2026 at Bescot Stadium.
On National Poetry Day Ian led a series of poetry challenges and performances with special guests and friends at the Let`s Chat Community Hubs in Walsall and West Bromwich. The Community Poem he created at Walsall MakerFest was also on display called Journeys of Hope and Wonder for National Poetry Day 2026.
Ian was keen to develop the process and create a community poem to celebrate the event in Walsall Town Hall for National Poetry Day 2026. "I wanted journeys of hope to reflect the wonderous stories of wonderful Walsall" he said "for National Poetry Day whose theme is wonder."
A community poem is a collaborative poem created by members of the community. Ian Henery invited people at his workshop in Walsall Town Hall to contribute just one line to express their thoughts, experiences and dreams on journeys of hope and wonder. These single lines all shared their same prompt, weaving multiple distinct voices into a single harmonious piece.
"Community poems are a powerful form of literary activism" explained Ian Henery. "They give voice to inviduals, activating words that speak truth, foster peace and promote a sense of belonging. Through these poetry forms we honour the idea that everyone has a story that matters. They are the living, breathing expressions of creativity that remind us all of the power of words that shape the world around us on National Poetry Day".
"On National Poetry Day, Let's Chat Hubs in Walsall and West Bromwich are delighted to announce the appointment of our very own Poet Laureate, Ian Henery", said Angie King, Project Manager of Walsall Community Transport.
"Widely respected within the local poetry community, Ian is known for his work supporting residents through creativity and for his acclaimed publications, including Poems of Hope and Black Country Blues. Through his role with Let's Chat Hubs, Ian will help local people explore poetry as a tool for self expression, creativity and wellbeing. His work will encourage residents of all ages and backgrounds to share their stories, build confidence and strengthen social connections.
We are privileged to have Ian supporting our communities and look forward to seeing the positive impact poetry can have on health, wellbeing and community spirit across Walsall and West Bromwich."
