Pigeon Poets and Dancing Queens

Since February, we've been working with the young people at YMCA St Helens on a creative project “Pigeon Poets and Dancing Queens”.

Led by poet Dominic Berry. The project focused on performance, poetry, and finding new ways to express themselves with words, movement and illustration.

From the first workshop, Dom created a relaxed and open atmosphere. He shared his own poetry, spoke honestly about his life, and encouraged the group to write privately, with no pressure to share. That approach helped build trust, and quickly the group began experimenting with different ways to write and create.

Over eleven sessions, the group developed original poems and performance pieces, took part in free writing exercises, explored haiku, sonnets and triolets, and worked collaboratively on group poems.

The theme of pigeons come up frequently; what they see, where they go, and how they live among us unnoticed. It sparked humour, imagination and some great writing. Alongside this, the “Dancing Queens” element reflected the group’s interest in movement, rhythm and performance, which became just as important as the writing itself.

As the sessions continued, more young people joined, bringing fresh ideas and voices. The group not only wrote poetry but also created illustrations for the anthology, designed invites for their celebration event, and made “About Me” posters to help decorate the space.

The finished book is a mix of personal, funny, moving and honest pieces. Some explore everyday moments—others touch on deeper themes like identity, growing up, or mental health. There’s poetry about food, friendship, pigeons, and St Helens itself.

Thank you to Dom for your energy and care, to YMCA staff for your ongoing support, and to all the young people who brought ideas, humour, and creativity into every session. You’ve made something real, and we hope this is only the beginning.