Libraries news archive

Black History Month 2008 in Westminster Libraries

Young Poppies

Young Poppies was a Westminster Libraries and Archives literacy project that took place in October 2008, and was delivered to four Year 7 groups at Westminster, Queens Park, St John’s Wood, and Maida Vale libraries.

The aim of the project was to use the inspiring life of Walter Tull to invite young people to think about Identity, Diversity, Ambition, and Bravery. The four groups of young people came from Westminster Academy, St Augustine’s Secondary School, Quentin Kynaston School, and Paddington Academy.

As lead facilitator, I worked with the schools and libraries to devise sessions that encouraged the young people to think about the First World War and Remembrance Day; as well as to see Walter Tull as an inspiring role model for all times.

The young people were very moved by the life story and the animation Crossing the White Lines, and produced a great deal of written work (a selection of which appears on a separate page).

I was really struck that diverse groups of both boys and girls were able to use Walter Tull’s life story to think about their ambitions and to take real steps to understand the emotional intelligence they would need in order to succeed at school and beyond. We hope that you enjoy and are inspired by the work.

Jenny Mitchell, Inner Vision