A BRADFORD poet who organised a competition for children to appreciate their teachers through poetry has been inspired by the pupils’ work. Sharena Lee Sati’s project was selected as part of the Response2 grants, awarded by Bradford Council to people working in the district’s creative industry. Many children responded, each creating a poetry postcard under the theme ‘Heroes Are Teachers’, and others have the chance to enter before the closing date in May. “I was deeply inspired by our teachers throughout lockdown and how they lifted our children s spirits up,” said Sharena. “Not only did they manage to teach remotely online but they helped to keep what little normality we had left. They have been incredibly hardworking and compassionate throughout lockdown, not just to their students but to parents too.
THERE was not a dry eye in the city when we put rivalry aside to cheer on Leeds Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield in the final few moments of his seven marathons in as many days challenge late last year, which raised over £2.5 million for ex-teammate Rob Burrow in his battle with motor neurone disease (MND). It inspired many of us to get off the sofa and join in with the fundraising to help beat such a terrible disease. Joshua Halliley, 27, the son of assistant headteacher Andy Halliley who has worked at Beckfoot Thornton School for more than 25 years, was no exception and decided to take on a mammoth mission to start the year.