October 10, 2023

Hillsborough Castle

October 10, 2023/ Will Dalziel

On Tuesday 10th October 2023, 18 students from schools across Northern Ireland gathered at Hillsborough Castle alongside members of the NSI team and Northern Ireland Office (NIO).

The purpose of our visit was to celebrate their contributions to a poetry collection marking the 25th Anniversary of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement (BGFA). Students were encouraged to write either a 25 word or 25 line poem reflecting on this historical document and its legacy. The collection can be viewed HERE.

After going on a fascinating tour of the castle and learning more about the BGFA, students were able to a view the signed document in person! They then read a selection of their poems in the Throne Room for the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland - Lord Caine. Each poet did a fantastic job, sharing some thoughtful, honest and hopeful responses.

Our thanks go to the NIO, PRONI Head of Conservation Sarah Graham, Lord Caine and staff at Hillsborough Castle for their support.

Never Such Innocence

Never Such Innocence is a registered charity (number 1156148) in England and Wales and is a unique project fitting into the wider series of 2014-2018 centenary activities. Our aim is to ensure young people nationally are inspired, informed and included in the centenary activities.

The charity takes its name from Philip Larkin’s famous poem MCMXIV, which reflects on the changes caused by the First World War. The driving force behind Never Such Innocence is Lady Lucy French, great-granddaughter of Field Marshal Sir John French who commanded the British Expeditionary Forces from 1914-15.

The launch of Never Such Innocence was kindly hosted at Australia House in May 2014 with a gala dinner and theatrical performance, blending poetry, prose and music from the Great War, compiled by Dr Martin Stephen. Since our inception we have been dedicated to engaging the nation’s children in the First World War centenary through learning, poetry, art and music.

T: 0207 836 2603
11 Slingsby Place, London,
WC2E 9AB

Never Such Innocence.
Registered Charity Number 1156148 Company Number 8680319

The artist of this new great competition entry shared: "The phrase "free women" can be interpreted in various ways, often symbolizing the liberation and empowerment of women across different societies and contexts. It highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equality, where women seek freedom from societal constraints, economic dependence, and discrimination. This movement encompasses diverse issues such as access to education, reproductive rights, equal pay, and the ability to make personal choices without fear of judgment or violence. The journey toward true freedom for women involves dismantling patriarchal structures and fostering a world where women can thrive as equal participants in all spheres of life. As more voices join the conversation, the vision of a world where all women are free becomes increasingly attainable." Visit our website at neversuchinnocence.com to learn more and take part in the competition. We encourage you to tackle the important question: How can we prevent future wars? Let your ideas inspire change!

🌟 Meet Valentino.C. from Italy, a passionate advocate for peace and a Young Ambassador for Never Such Innocence! 🇮🇹✨ It was an absolute delight to welcome him to the office as he and his family came to London for a trip! He has been an amazing advocate at his school! Valentino invites all poets, artists, musicians, and speakers to participate in the international contest. Share your creativity and message of peace by responding to the question: "How Can We Prevent Future Wars?" Translation of the content: “Poets, artists, musicians, and speakers... I invite you to participate in the international contest proposed by Never Such Innocence. Express yourselves creatively and share your message of peace, responding to the question: "How Can We Prevent Future Wars?”

🌟 This Remembrance Month, we reflect on the moving words of “Eleven,” a poem by Sally S. “I have a huge passion for learning about both World Wars - ever since I was a child, I have been captivated by the subject. While thinking about what could be written, I decided to focus on those lost in the First World War and their ancestors. I have personal connections to the First World War through my great uncle who was stationed nearby, which made me interested in how I could connect this to the present. As a child, I always felt it was unfair that we never talked about those who helped Britain from countries under British control. I used to ask my mum, ‘Why can’t I do something about this? Why don’t we talk about these people in school?’ Reflecting on this made me realize that it’s up to our future children to use their knowledge of the world’s cruelty to stop it - to prevent early deaths and halt wars. Trust the youth, as I would have wanted.” For more details and to join the competition, visit our official website at neversuchinnocence.com. We invite you to answer the crucial question: How can we prevent future wars? You might consider using the theme of remembrance as a starting point! 🌍🕊

We're exploring another avenue of art today. We thought it would be fun to explore how education can prevent war through an public art lens; showing both 3D and 2D pieces from our archive alongside famous artworks, read along and get inspired on how to get started in answering this years question ⬇️ “How Can We Prevent Future Wars?” Annual NSI Competition 2024/25 Deadline: 28/02/2025 Stay up to date on the competition by following our social media @neversuch and checking out the link in bio for more resources! #neversuchinnocence #artcompetition #artandexpression #artblog

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Hillsborough Castle

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