In 2024, Airedale Hospital and Community Charity launched their first ‘Menu of Poems’ for patients across Airedale NHS Foundation Trust. Following their initial success, the charity are bringing the Menu of Poems back for this years’ National Poetry Day with a brand-new theme.
The Menu of Poems has become a staple of the charity’s Act of Kindness campaign, commonly referred to as Airedale AOK. The campaign launched in October 2021 and began with an aim of spreading kindness throughout the local community including patients, visitors and colleagues of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.
This years’ Menu of Poems theme is Celebration in recognition of Airedale Hospital and Community Charity ringing in their 30th anniversary on 10 October 2025.
Jodie Hearnshaw, Charity Manager said:
“Our Act of Kindness campaign began with us spreading random acts of kindness across the Trust to boost morale during a particularly difficult period. This has evolved over the years into the local community, and we now speak about the importance of kindness at open days, community events and school assemblies.
“We saw the Menu of Poems as another way for us to give something back to people spending time in hospital and colleagues working across the Airedale Trust sites. The interest in 2024 was fantastic so we knew we had to bring it back especially in the run up to our 30th anniversary which also takes place in October.”
Submissions to the Menu of Poems can be sent in up to Sunday 31 August to anhsft.charity@nhs.net. Poems must be the writers own work and are capped at 25 lines to ensure the charity can include a wide variety of poems. The Menu of Poems is open to everyone, and writers of all ages are encouraged to send in their creations.
You can view all 24 submissions to the 2024 Menu of Poems by visiting www.airedalecharity.org/portfolio/menu-of-poems/. If you’d like to find out more about Airedale AOK including previous campaigns and what’s to come, visit www.airedalecharity.org/portfolio/airedale-aok-our-acts-of-kindness-campaign/.
If you would like to discuss ideas for your own Acts of Kindness idea, contact the charity team by email anhsft.charity@nhs.net or call 01535 294870.
Strong A Level performance celebrated by county’s schools
Main section of A59 Kex Gill route set to open 'within weeks'
Successful launch for Craven Court's new independent bookshop
Free family music workshops coming to Skipton this weekend
Skipton streets targeted in £27,500 chewing gum clean-up
Police invite residents' views on Skipton Bus Station
Rise in number of children in care contributes to Council's £10m overspend forecast
Skipton coffee company celebrates top Great Taste award
Teenagers sentenced after terrifying knife-point robbery in Skipton
North Yorkshire schools set for £6.8m improvement programme
Skipton Business Awards finalists revealed after more than 1,200 nominations
Yorkshire children invited to nominate their parents to be 'slimed' on CBBC
Fresh calls for school transport changes to be abandoned amid claim council is ignoring own policy
Funding agreed to progress work on Skipton leisure hub redevelopments
Community rallies to help elderly driver find 'missing' car in Skipton
Dales Dazzler trail running event returns to Skipton
Everything you need to know about Skipton Pride this weekend
Police appeal after driver forgets where car was parked in Skipton
Shoplifter caught trying to dump stolen goods in Skipton bin
Councillor breaks national fundraising record with charity head shave
