World famous poet to speak at Oxfordshire Youth’s 75th anniversary celebration

We are thrilled to announce that the multi-award winning poet, activist and broadcaster Lemn Sissay O.B.E. will be speaking and performing his work at Oxfordshire Youth’s 75th anniversary celebration.

Lemn, who is Chancellor of The University of Manchester, has entertained audiences from The Library of Congress in the United States to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, from Dubai Opera House to the London Palladium and now he adds Blenheim Palace to that illustrious list. He has described feeling obliged to accept his O.B.E. as a way of honouring his younger self who overcame a ‘dehumanising’ time in the care system and went on to achieve far too many thrilling things to do justice to in one paragraph, so please discover more about this amazing human being here. He will be joined by our host and President Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, and his keynote address and poetry recital are just two of the highlights for guests to look forward. Entertainment on the night comes in the form of live performances from upcoming Oxfordshire artists and an exclusive walk through the palace, resplendent in all its Christmas finery. 

Friends and supporters from the business community are coming together on November 29th for this inspirational and uplifting evening at which we will be lighting a torch of hope for the next 75 years of Oxfordshire’s young people. As Lady Henrietta says, “In these times of hardship, we look to individuals and companies sharing our vision of a future in which everyone overcomes adversity to reach their full potential. I invite you to join us on this wonderful occasion at Blenheim Palace, and bestow the torch of hope upon young people as they boldly create a brighter future for all.”

A small number of seats are available. Find out more about the speaker and dinner arrangements here and to take your place at the table, contact liza.roure@oxfordshireyouth.org Together, we will ensure that whatever a young person’s starting point in life may be, nothing can hold them back.