Sutton college invites the community to share their words for remembrance
ATTFE College in Sutton has launched its ‘Share Your Words for Remembrance’ community poetry project for this year, inviting people of all ages across Ashfield and Mansfield to contribute original poems that honour the spirit of remembrance, peace, sacrifice, and community.
Building on the success of previous remembrance initiatives, ATTFE College has become widely recognised for creating meaningful opportunities for local people to engage with remembrance in creative and personal ways.
In recent years, the college’s remembrance activities have included student-led exhibitions, community displays, an annual remembrance event and the hugely popular Tommy silhouette installations, which have become a powerful focal point for reflection and tribute across the county and wider.
These striking displays have helped connect generations, encouraging conversations about service, sacrifice, and the importance of remembering those affected by conflict.
For 2026, the college is placing community voices at the heart of its remembrance programme.
The project seeks original poems inspired by themes including remembrance, war and peace, family stories and reflection and respect
Whether the contribution comes from a student, veteran, family member, school pupil, community group, or someone simply wishing to share their thoughts, every voice has a place in the project.
Jordan Stubbs, sessional tutor at the college, who is co-ordinating the initiative, said: “Remembrance is about people, stories, and the connections we share across generations.
"Through poetry, we hope to create a display that reflects the experiences, memories, and reflections of our local community.
"Some submissions may be inspired by family history, others by feelings of gratitude or hopes for peace.
"Every contribution helps tell our collective story.”
The completed poems will form part of the college’s Remembrance Display 2026, creating a lasting and meaningful tribute created by the community, for the community.
Participants do not need any previous writing experience.
Organisers are particularly keen to eceive authentic and personal reflections rather than professionally written pieces.
All submissions must be on an A5 portrait format and typed.
An illustration, submitted as a scanned A5 landscape image, can be included if the writer wishes but this is optional.
Poems must be the participant’s own original work, copied or adapted poems are not allowed and nor is AI-generated content.
Personal and local voices are encouraged.
Poems should be emailed to [email protected]