Sparking a light: Inspiring our people and our playmakers

My poem, 'Spark a Light'

My aim has always been to utilise poetry to engage young people, especially people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and that’s exactly what I’ve tried to do with Spark a Light.

The background to the poem was way out of the ordinary in terms of what usually provokes or inspires me, this time it was a massive spreadsheet of numbers. E.ON had produced a survey of more than 10,000 people across the country, asking them about their hopes and fears for our climate and our communities.

This spreadsheet was the output of all 10,000 people answering more than a dozen questions and giving their opinions on some of the biggest topics of all – how we protect this planet, and how can we create a society for our children and their children.

This wasn’t literature, this was maths! I had to get behind these numbers to properly understand what the people of my country, my city were saying and represent that in a simple and inspirational way.

Words behind the poem

If I could call out one particular part of the poem that I feel stands out or I want to emphasise, it would be this call to action:

“right now we have work to do,
from ground level collaboration to
calling all those with influence
to be part of the solution, soon.

Time might not be on our side like we would like it to,
and you’ve heard this all before so
I’m not going to enlighten you,
but spark a light in you.”     

This is on all of us, and I wanted to sound a siren that whoever you are, you need to look up and look out, to do what you can.

It’s written with a sense of urgency. The climate crisis is a thing. We’ve got a whole generation to think about. Yes, it might not affect us in our lifetime, but there is a generation it will affect if we continue to do what we’re doing. What can we do to play our part in solving this situation, and how can we inspire people to do that themselves?

This particular subject was something that’s really close to home, working with young people and then seeing where the future’s heading for them. For me it’s that sense of urgency. When I was writing this poem, I had it in my mind like, 'okay, cool, this is what’s going on. So what can we do to position ourselves in a way that will help the next generation of young people 15 years, 20 years from now?'

One thing I really love about Cov is it always has the young people at the forefront. When I was growing up there was a lot of youth clubs and spaces where young people can go. I’m a product of such things so for me I love that the young people in the next generations are always at the forefront of the city’s plans.

Our approach in making the film with No Class – and this was part of E.ON’s plans from the start as well – was to make Coventry a living character in the piece. This wasn’t just about finding somewhere to film, we wanted to show off the variety and diversity of our city, its people, its history and, of course, its future.

I also want to say thank you for the backing we’ve had across the city. We’ve been brilliantly supported along the way by local companies and organisations such as Coventry City Council, Locationz, Coventry Boys and Girls Club, Media Dog, Film West Midlands, Coventry University, The Pod Café, Coventry Cathedral, Razzamataz Coventry, D Betts & Son, Coventry Improv, Fargo Village and the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Find out more about the project in our press release. 

Spark a Light, by John Bernard

It is safe to say that the earth needs us now more than ever,
We see it through the unpredictable weather, 
Showing that we can no longer afford to overlook the human errors.

I know we have been in denial, 
but denying the unavoidable doesn’t change the facts.
Some of us think it’s too late to react – and feel powerless, 
but imagine someone that you loved was badly hurt,
and the only chance for them to recover, 
was for their loved ones to come together and tend to each wound.
Knowing that each person had a part to play.
Whether your part was to address the pain,
or dress the graze, or circumspect anything that might affect the progress made.
Recovery was going to be dependent on how purposefully you embraced the role you played.
Now let’s apply the same scenario to climate change. 

Our world is changing; our young people need us now more than ever.
We watch them face eco-anxiety; we can no longer afford to overlook generational errors. 
What their future holds is whatever we have placed in their future's hands.
It's either we are for them or not, it’s time to decide where we choose to stand.  
The trail's been blazed, nothing will ever be the same, it won’t just change later.
We need to know the goal and urge community and corporate leaders to assist us as playmakers. 
As a city we have never been afraid to face adversity of any kind.
We’ve had to be still, refill, rebuild, and redesign. 

Right now we have work to do, from ground-level collaboration to,
calling all those with influence to be part of the solution—soon. 
Time might not be on our side like we would like it to.
And you have heard all this before, so I am not here to enlighten you, 
but to spark a light in you. 

Let’s put our differences aside. This is our city, from Spon End, to Stoke Heath, Aldermoor to Allesley, Hillfields to Canley,
These are our streets, which means the responsibility is ours. 
We have been marred by so many issues, 
and for many things have never been this hard. 
But in togetherness we will find strength.
Keep your faith up with me. 
Here’s hope, for a greener future for our changing city.