The Batley Poets have held their first in-person poetry session in two years to mark Inter Faith Week.

The two-hour event took place in Batley Library and was held to bring together a diverse group of people and poets to share in the universality of poetry that binds them all.

Inter Faith Week marked a fitting return to in-person events for the group who hadn’t met for such an event since 2019.

A now-annual event for the group, marked last year with a poetry live stream, with poets across the country joining together.

The Tour aimed to raise the awareness of hate crimes, what they are and the importance of reporting them. Travelling around Kirklees, the Batley Poets wrote and performed six themed poems each focussing on a different hate crime as well as performing several other poems about hope.

Adding to a growing trend of poetry being utilised to bring people of different faiths and cultures together this event highlights the positive impact poetry can have on communities.

This year, Batley Library saw poets’ old and new take the stage to share poems they had written or enjoyed reading.

Gujarati poets shared their unique style, performing in both Gujarati and English.

Earlier this year, the Poets worked in partnership with Kirklees Cohesion and Safer Kirklees on the Poems of Hope Tour.

Mohamed Saloo, a poet from Batley poets, said, "We've all been through so much and holding an in-person poetry event has been something we've been looking forward to. And it did not disappoint.

“The power of the poets echoed in the applause as every poem touched our souls.

“To add the diversity and friendliness that Batley Poets attract, to the mix,  we had the everyday people who live in our local towns showing how diversity is beautiful.

“A big thank you to all who attended and the team for organising another memorable event. "