Meet The Team
Cecily Holland, Caroline Brennan, Poppy Roche, Bash Amuneni
Cecily's Bio
Founding Mother
​
Cecily is well-known for championing undocumented LGBTQ+ History and speaks loudly with flair and passion about her experiences at the grassroots of the gay rights movement. As a former presenter for Diversity Radio in Lancaster, Cecily produced and presented her own show. Never one to shy away from difficult conversations, she explored issues such as women's rights, FGM, sexual assault and racism. Cecily is a strong advocate for mental health awareness and has hosted many 'Open Mic' events allowing performers to use poetry as a vehicle to unpack emotions and improve well-being.
Cecily has performed at venues up and down the country, including the Lancaster Grand Theatre and Aspex Gallery in Southsea. Now a four-year resident of Portsmouth, she was recently charged with creating a poem about her experiences as a member of the LGBTQ+ community to commemorate 50 Years of UK Pride. She has coordinated several writing workshops and participated in numerous author talks, sharing writing techniques and personal sources of inspiration. Two of her screenplays, "The Queen's Legs' and 'Shirley to God' have been adapted into short movies by Blue Gecko Film.
Cecily is exceptionally proud of her six-part 'Firestarter' Podcast which discusses challenges facing diverse and marginalised social groups. Here she discusses her experiences growing up in a working-class Irish family and life as a neurodivergent author.
In 2019, Cecily published the poetry anthology 'Cecily Speaks' and the first of her trilogy of memoirs, 'All Who Sail In Us.' The next book in the series, "Steady As She Goes" was published in 2024. The final installment is scheduled for publication in 2025."
Caroline's Bio
Co-ordinator
​​
Caroline Brennan is a journalist, poet, performer and creative director. She works with authors, poets and screenplay writers to promote and publish their work in the national press, television, radio, podcasts and through a variety of global multi-media platforms.
Caroline has been instrumental in delivering successful book launches for debut authors as well as famous writers, curating their work for prestigious literary awards and events such as The Bridport Prize and BBC Writers Lounge. She is a talented and respected performance poet herself, responsible for co-ordinating and participating in spoken word showcases and poetry slams in the UK. It is her belief that poetry should be accessible to all, regardless of age, background or ability. Most importantly, she views poetry as vital and transformative, carrying a real power to uplift, inspire and drive for change.
Caroline's own poetry explores femininity, loss, trauma, healing, finding community, confidence and love. As an accomplished media commentator, her work as part of the Literacy Live Team has seen her liaise with many well-known poets, authors and DJs taking part in the popular Victorious Music Festival.
For the D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemorations, Caroline wrote and directed the revue "From Sword to Utah," a powerful juxtaposition of archived poetry and contemporary writing from the Normandy Landings. This production was adapted for radio and later broadcast by Express FM upon the arrival of world leaders to Portsmouth for the remembrance ceremony.
An enthusiastic participant on the international stage, Caroline recently served as a judge for the Bash Amuneni Prize for Climate Change in partnership with Nasaracreative, TrueMyVoice and Officialcureafrica. She was a guest speaker at the Abuja International Poetry Festival exploring the topic of poetry in the digital age.
Caroline is currently working alongside The BASE Spoken delivering Open Mic events for young people age 14-25 at Portsmouth Guildhall
Poppy's Bio
​
Poppy Roche is a singer/performer inspired by Abba, The Beatles, Motown, Rock Music, Jazz and Soft Rock. She regularly hosts and takes part in live music events across Portsmouth and the South Coast.
Poppy is committed to charity work and spreading joy through performance. She devotes a great deal of her time to performing for seniors at retirement homes such as Simmons Lodge and Wellesley Court.
​
Poppy is a mentor for Pompey Poetry Party's multi-generational events and workshops, inspiring young people to pursue their passion in the arts.
Bash's Bio
​
Bash Amuneni is an Architect & Poet that lives in England & Nigeria. As a poet, his works explore the subtleties of the human condition. He doubles as the General Manager of Abuja Literary Society, Nigerian Ambassador to the World Poetry Slam Organisation and African Cup of Slam Poetry. Bash Amuneni has been a guest at Lagos Poetry Festival, ALITFest, Poetry Africa, SLAMeroun, Festival of Ideas; A Journey into African Knowledge at the University of Sussex.'D-Day 80' commemorative readings in Portsmouth City and was invited to the inauguration of the Nigerian President in 2015.
He was the performance poet at the commissioning of African Development Bank HQ and the African Parliamentary Union Congress held in 2018. As a poet, A&R consultant and storyteller, Bash has worked with global brands like Oando PLC, Glenfiddich & Balvenie whiskey, Options Consultancy Services, USAID, British Council, United Nations, The Nigerian Lottery Commission, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, European Union, the Nigerian Navy and many more.
Bash is the author of a collection of poems- 'There Is a Lunatic in Every Town'. He is an Audio Book Narrator, seeking to leverage passion and expertise for poetry in new spaces, conversations, and opportunities. He is skilled in the development of poetry workshops and curriculum and has successfully trained over 500+ young poets around the world in the past 8+ years, individually and in groups. Bash is also a creative consultant for the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).