20:20 is a new multimedia arts and heritage project from Salusbury World Refugee Centre, collecting and exploring the oral histories of 20 refugee families over 20 years. Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project has created artistic responses to the stories in the form of multimedia exhibitions and performances. 

As a partner to the project, English PEN has conducted a series of poetry writing workshops, led by Rosemary Harris. A selection of the 20:20 oral history recordings was used as inspiration for the poems. The workshops culminated in two public performances: at the V&A in June 2019, and at Willesden Green Library in October 2019.

Download and read the poems written by children aged 10-13 years from Salusbury Primary School and Queens Park Community School below:

Download the poems