‘Home is the place where, when you have to go there, / They have to take you in.’

I’ve always liked that line from Robert Frost’s ‘The Death of the Hired Man’.

The Poem-a-Thon in Brighton on Sunday 11 December is raising funds for the Refugee Council which does excellent work helping refugees and asylum seekers – who have suffered terrible losses – find the openings they need in order to feel at home in our country. They have had to come here, we have to take them in.

Already the Poem-a-Thon team has raised more than £23,000 – we are deeply appreciative of the wonderful support shown by so many at a time when there are greater demands than ever on people’s resources. The more we can raise, the better. We also look forward to seeing a good crowd on the day.

The event is at the Komedia in Brighton, it runs from 12 midday to 10 pm and you can come and go as you like. As well as non-stop poetry from the largest gathering of poets and performers Brighton has seen, there’ll be book stalls, bar, tombola, silent auction with fantastic prizes, and more – a poetry party in the best of causes. Please come if you can!