SRtRC School Competition: A Full Circle Moment
Sometimes, a single event in childhood is more than just a memory; it’s a seed that contains the blueprint for your future. School competitions are often seen as fleeting moments of glory, but their true impact can last a lifetime, shaping not just the person you become, but creating ripples that extend far beyond yourself. Yossi’s journey with poetry is a testament to that enduring power.
In his own words, here is his story.
The first time I remember writing a poem I was 9. It was in primary school as part of the Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC) competition back in 2005. I didn’t win, but nevertheless I remember the excitement and pride of writing a poem on an important issue.
Like most 9-year-old boys, I was obsessed with football and didn’t particularly like poetry or writing. However, there was something empowering about getting to write about football, especially in relation to the more serious issue of racism. The combination of football and poetry made the hard topic of racism accessible for children to engage with. And for me it planted a seed, a seed which re-appeared when I found poetry again in the form of spoken word in my early twenties.
I was someone who always had a lot to say, but didn’t always know how, when to start, or more importantly, when to stop speaking. I was always in trouble at school, but finding the art form of spoken word gave me a way to use my ideas and words productively and artistically instead of carelessly. In 2017, I entered my second poetry competition – Poetic Unity’s Black History Month spoken word competition, and this time, I won. I had written a poem called ‘Family History’ based on the journey of my best friend Tyler’s Grandma’s journey from Jamaica to the UK in the 50’s. The poem was featured on MTV, and I performed at the BACK2BLACK awards at BAFTA.
Shortly after this, seeing the transformative power of spoken word, Tyler and I started Write2Speak, a spoken word poetry organisation. Over the last 8 years, we have worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life and in the last year alone, we have worked with over 50 schools and supported more than 2000 young people to express themselves through spoken word. What a full-circle and joyful moment it was to hear that Neriah, a student who had participated in our Black History Month secondary school programme in 2023, had been encouraged by her teacher to enter her poem to the SRtRC School Competition 2025 and she had won! Not only winning but doing it in absolute style by taking home 3 awards in one night!
Neriah has since been invited to perform her poem in parliament, at Downing Street and at other prestigious venues. It was an honour to see her perform so powerfully in the House of Commons at their Black History Month Reception and it’s certainly encouraging for all young people to see that believing in your voice and sharing it in a creative way can have an impact. We are proud to have played a small role in encouraging Neriah in her journey. We hope that the work of Show Racism the Red Card continues to inspire young people and tackle the shockingly still prevalent issue of racism.
As a 9-year-old pupil wrote in one of our recent workshops, echoing a sentiment I’m sure I remember writing in my 2005 Show Racism the Red Card entry 20 years prior.
“How is there still racism is 2025? Don’t we all just want to feel alive?”
Pictured together (L-R): Yossi, Neriah and Tyler.
Reflecting on this journey, from a 9-year-old with a football poem to a founder watching the next generation triumph, I am struck by a profound truth: a school competition is not a closed chapter. It is the opening of a door. The SRtRC School Competition wasn’t a one-off event in 2005; it was the first step on a path that defined my life’s work and, now, is lighting the way for others like Neriah. This is the hidden curriculum of such initiatives – they don’t just teach about issues; they unlock potential, build legacies and prove that the courage to use your voice is a gift that, once given, lasts forever.
This Friday, registration opens for the SRtRC School Competition 2026. We can’t wait to see which young voices will be sparked and what new journeys will begin. Teachers, register your school and help plant a seed for the future.