Child labour, climate change and making a difference were some of the topics young poets explored at the annual One World Poetry Slam.

Fifteen teams of students from the island’s secondary schools took part in the event, held at Ballakermeen High School’s Studio Theatre.

A team from Ramsey Grammar School, comprising of Lola Tebay, Annelise Mellor and Abbigail Radcliffe took the top spot with a performance of their poem called ’Hope’, about refugees.

Poetry Slam co-ordinator Phil Matthews, from the One World Centre, said: ’It was a very difficult decision for the judges as all the students performed so well and really brought their poems to life.

’The Poetry Slam gives students the chance to think about difficult subjects and people whose lives are very different from their own.

’It was clear the research into their chosen topics generated a lot of empathy among the students for those who are less fortunate, as well as providing a greater understanding of some of the injustices and inequalities in the world.’

Second and third place runners up were teams from Ballakermeen High School with poems on the subject of people on the move.

Danielle Wilkinson, Zharah Hewlett, Jess Murphy and Hannah Gartshore performed ’Vulnerable’ and Leo Dixon, Matthew Jones, Tommy Elliot and Spencer Baker performed ’What can we do?’.

The judging panel featured Manx Bard Annie Kissack and one of her predecessors, Stacey Astill, Department of Education representative Karen Riordan and One World Centre chairman Phil Craine.

They considered factors including content, rhythm, imagery and overall delivery.

The three winning teams were invited to perform at the Manx Litfest Poetry Slam which took place soon after.

The audience enjoyed a solo reading of ’Freedom’ by year eight student Lyuboslav Shinovski, who has not long moved to the island from Bulgaria, and short films made by primary school children for the One World Centre’s It’s Not Fair! competition.