Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts

Monday, 14 April 2025

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 6

Do you want to be a part of something really great? Something that is far more than just poetry? Something that will leave a lasting legacy and do some good in the world? We are about to publish the latest anthology in our charity series. It's number 6 in the series in our efforts to make lives better for underprivileged children around the world.

Wheelsong Books was established in the UK in 2020 as a not-for-profit organisation. Its mission statement is twofold: To give emerging poets the means to reach larger audiences and to help those who are in need. Since then, Wheelsong Books has published more than 50 books including ten charity poetry anthologies. Here are some of our anthology statistics: 


(This is a total of 2,305 poems written by more than 650 poets representing 112 countries across all 6 continents) 

All the above books are still available on Amazon and through other online outlets, including Waterstones (UK) and Barnes & Noble (USA). The proceeds from Amazon sales of these books is donated directly to Save the Children - a worldwide charity that cares for children in crisis, providing emergency nutrition, health care, medicine, safety and education. At the time of writing, Wheelsong Books has donated £8,350.00 ($11,000.00) to Save the Children and we are not done yet! At the end of October 2025 we plan to publish Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 7.

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Dear poet, here is the bottom line... You have been given an amazing creative gift ... your ability to capture your thoughts, ideas, memories and emotions and present them as beautiful, evocative words. 

You can, if you want to join us, use your wonderful talent to freely give back a little to children who are in desperate, often life-threatening situations

We all want our poetry to be read and appreciated by others. Publishing your work in Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 6 will ensure that you gain a new audience for your poetry, but that's not the most important aim! 

Better than that is this ... your poems will be helping to raise much needed funds to support children in crisis. You will also retain ownership of your poem, and Wheelsong Books will protect and administer your copyright for you. 

-----

To be considered for inclusion in the review process you will need to follow these instructions very carefully:

Firstly, do not bother to submit your poetry if you do not intend to buy at least one copy of the book. We will expect you to pledge to buy at least one copy direct from Wheelsong Books if your work is published. This is a charity publication, and all profits from Amazon sales will go to help children in crisis. If you're not prepared to invest in helping children, we won't be publishing your poetry (we are dismayed that around two thirds of featured poets do not purchase a copy of the anthologies once they have been published). Please give more than you take, because this is not about you or about Wheelsong Books - it's about helping children who are in desperate need. 

Secondly, only submit poetry that is a) your own work and b) has not been subject to any other publishing agreement. Poetry you've shared on Facebook and other social media is fine, but please do not send in work that has been published elsewhere, and is subject to another publishing contract. That could lead to legal action. The editorial team will also reject poems if we suspect they have been either plagiarised in part or whole, or generated partly or wholly through artificial intelligence.

Thirdly, submit up to 3 poems as either plain text or in a Word file via email direct to this email address: wheelsong6@gmail.com. Submissions by any other means will not be considered. Poetry submitted as images or photos will not be considered, nor will links to other sites. Please supply a title for each of your poems. Please also supply your real name - we will not publish works by poets using pseudonyms. 

And before you ask: There is NO specific theme. Write about what you want. 

Finally, all poems submitted will be subject to review by our editorial team. Your poetry will be anonymised (your name blanked out) so the editorial team can't see who you are. If your poetry is selected, you will be informed via email and a publication agreement will be sent to you for you to complete and return. Your work will be then published under your name. If your work is not accepted for publication, you will receive an email informing you of the team's decision. No correspondence other than via email will be valid. Please don't try to text or direct message us. We won't answer. 

The window for submission is now open, and will be closed at midnight (UK time) on Sunday April 27, 2025. Any submissions received after this time/date will be rejected. If there is an extension to this date, you will be informed. The editors' decisions will be final. 

Please Note: Shorter poems are more likely to be accepted for publication than longer pieces - space will be limited in the book due to resource and production limitations. Several poetry groups will participate, including Invisible Poets, Wheelsong Poetry, Pure Poetry and Safe Haven. Poets from outside these groups are also eligible to take part, so point them to this blog, and keep visiting this blog to find out news as it unfolds. We look forward to reading your submissions. Good luck! 

Steve Wheeler (Editor in Chief) 

Photo courtesy of Save the Children

Tuesday, 15 October 2024

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 5 is published!


Our strapline on Invisible Poets is Poetry Against Poverty, and that's exactly what this new publication is all about. Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 5 contains premier poetry from 130 poets from across all six continents. Showcasing around 250 new poems, the anthology weighs in at 208 pages, so is a substantial tome. 

The cover image is a photo I took in New York City (Manhattan) in 2015. It depicts a variety of high rise buildings and is evocative of reaching for higher things. And that is exactly what the editorial board wishes to achieve - high sales of a great collection of poetry so we can contribute to nutritional, health and education needs of children in crisis and make their lives just a little better. 

Every book sold raises enough money to feed a malnourished child for almost a month, or can purchase a month's supply of water purification tablets. Please be generous, and buy not only a copy for yourself, but further copies for friends, family, colleagues, local libraries, schools etc.

You can find all the links of online stores right here on the Wheelsong Books official website

Steve Wheeler

Friday, 20 September 2024

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 5


Do you want to be a part of something really great? Something that is far more than just poetry? Something that will leave a lasting legacy and do some good in the world? We are about to publish the latest anthology in our charity series, so read on....

Wheelsong Books was established in the UK in 2020 as a not-for-profit organisation. Its mission statement is twofold: To give emerging poets the means to reach larger audiences and to help those who are in need. Since then, the company has published 40 books including seven charity poetry anthologies. Here are some anthology statistics: 


(a total of 1569 poems written by more than 470 poets representing 108 countries across all 6 continents) 

All the above books are still on sale on Amazon and through other outlets, including Waterstones (UK) and Barnes & Noble (USA). The proceeds from Amazon sales of these books is donated to Save the Children - a worldwide charity that supports children in crisis. At the time of writing, Wheelsong Books has donated £5350.00 ($6825.00) to Save the Children and we are not done yet! At the end of October we will be publishing Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 5.


Dear poet, this is the bottom line... You have been given an amazing creative gift ... your ability to capture your thoughts, ideas, memories and emotions and present them as beautiful, evocative words. 

You can, if you want to join us, use your wonderful talent to freely give back a little to children who are in desperate, often life-threatening situations

We all want our poetry to be read and appreciated by others. Publishing your work in Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 5 will ensure that you gain a new audience for your poetry, but that's not the most important aim! 

Better than that is this ... your poems will be helping to raise much needed funds to support children in crisis. You will also retain ownership of your poem, and Wheelsong Books will protect and administer your copyright for you. 


To be considered for inclusion in the review process you will need to follow these instructions very carefully:

Firstly, do not bother to submit your poetry if you do not intend to buy at least one copy of the book. We will expect you to pledge to buy at least one copy direct from Wheelsong Books if your work is published. This is a charity publication, and all profits from Amazon sales will go to help children in crisis. If you're not prepared to invest in helping children, we won't be publishing your poetry (we are dismayed that around two thirds of featured poets do not purchase a copy of the anthologies once they have been published!). Please give more than you take, because this is not about you or Wheelsong - it's about helping children who are in desperate need. 

Secondly, only submit poetry that is a) your own work and b) has not been subject to any other publishing agreement. Poetry you've shared on Facebook and other social media is fine, but please do not send in work that has been published elsewhere, and is subject to another publishing contract. That could lead to legal action. The editorial team will also reject poems if we suspect they have been either plagiarised in part or whole, or generated partly or wholly through artificial intelligence.

Thirdly, submit up to 3 poems as either plain text or in a Word file via email to this address: wheelsong6@gmail.com. Submissions by any other means will not be considered. Poetry submitted as images or photos will not be considered, nor will links to other sites. 

And before you ask: There is NO specific theme

Finally, all poems submitted will be subject to review by our editorial team. Your poetry will be anonymised (your name blanked out) so the editorial team can't see who you are. If your poetry is selected, you will be informed via email and a publication agreement will be sent to you for you to complete and return. Your work will be then published under your name. If your work is not accepted for publication, you will receive an email informing you of the team's decision. No correspondence other than via email will be valid. Please don't try to text or direct message us. We won't answer. 

The window for submission is now open, and will be closed at midnight (UK time) on October 4, 2024. Any submissions received after this time/date will be rejected. If there is an extension to this date, you will be informed. The editors' decisions will be final. 

Please Note: Shorter poems are more likely to be accepted for publication than longer pieces - space will be limited in the book due to resource and production limitations. Several poetry groups will participate, including Invisible Poets, Wheelsong Poetry, Pure Poetry and Safe Haven. Poets from outside these groups are also eligible to take part, so point them to this blog, and keep visiting this blog to find out news as it unfolds. We look forward to reading your submissions. Good luck! 

Steve Wheeler (Editor in Chief) 

Photo courtesy of Save the Children

Thursday, 8 August 2024

Poetry Against Poverty 2: Esther the Tree Planter


This is the second in a short series of reports about how Wheelsong's charity initiative is achieving success.

Wheelsong Books has a longstanding partnership with Save the Children, a worldwide charity that provides aid to children in crisis across the globe. But it's not only food they provide during a famine, nor is it just medical supplies and healthcare they supply in war zones. Save the Children are also committed to providing children with education and learning opportunities so they can support themselves, their environment and their local communities. 

You may already have heard about the Ethiopian Camel Library our book sales from recent anthologies have helped to fund. That was a classic, innovative project to provide ways for children in hard to read areas with books and literacy skills where no one else could do it. Here is another recent innovation from Save the Children:

Climate change champion Esther (pictured) from Malawi, loves planting trees almost as much as she loves climbing them. Every tree she plants helps shield her village from storms and floods. Thanks to our eco-lessons, she's more passionate about nature than ever.

Save the Children

This kind of greening project is begin to blossom all over the world in developing areas. It's important to educate our next generation of the crucial need to care for our planet. Planting trees helps to restore the lungs of our planet. 

This is just one more great reason why you should support Wheelsong Books and our poets who have pledged the sales profits from their books to support Save the Children. Poetry against Poverty!

Steve Wheeler

Image courtesy of Save the Children

Tuesday, 6 August 2024

Poetry Against Poverty 1: Lucy the Beekeeper


This is the first in a short series of reports about how Wheelsong's charity initiative is achieving success.

Wheelsong Books has a longstanding partnership with Save the Children, a worldwide charity that provides aid to children in crisis across the globe. But it's not only food they provide during a famine, nor is it just medical supplies and healthcare they supply in war zones. Save the Children are also committed to providing children with education and learning opportunities so they can support themselves, their environment and their local communities. 

You may already have heard about the Ethiopian Camel Library our book sales from recent anthologies have helped to fund. That was a classic, innovative project to provide ways for children in hard to read areas with books and literacy skills where no one else could do it. Here is another recent innovation from Save the Children:

Thanks to our dedicated community of supporters, we’re working with partners in the Solomon Islands to train beekeepers. The benefits are huge: bees are pollinating the mangrove trees which protect against rising sea levels and severe storms. 

And the honey provides a sweet new income for parents, so they can buy food for their children and pay their school fees. Pretty cool, right? Beekeeping is a sustainable, long-term solution for communities facing the climate crisis. Developing life-changing projects – like this one – is only possible because of your generosity. 

Find out how this innovative work is helping Alison – an amazing beekeeper and mum – and her daughter Lucy (pictured above) whose home was destroyed by a devastating storm.

Save the Children

This is just one more wonderful reason why you should support Wheelsong Books and our poets who have pledged the sales profits from their books to support Save the Children. Poetry against Poverty!

Steve Wheeler

Image courtesy of Save the Children


Monday, 18 March 2024

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 4


Wheelsong Books was established in the UK in 2020 as a not-for-profit organisation. Its mission statement is twofold: To give emerging poets the means to reach larger audiences and to help those who are in need. Since then, the company has published 36 books including six charity poetry anthologies. Here are the anthology statistics: 


(a total of 1324 poems written by more than 400 poets representing 104 countries across all 6 continents) 

All the above books will remain on sale on Amazon and through other outlets, including Waterstones (UK) and Barnes & Noble (USA). The proceeds from Amazon sales of these six books is donated to Save the Children - a worldwide charity that supports children in crisis. At the time of writing, Wheelsong Books has donated more than £2800.00 ($3600.00) to Save the Children and we intend to raise a lot more money. In April we will be publishing Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 4.

Poet, here's the deal.... You have been given a wonderful creative gift, which is your ability to articulate your thoughts, ideas, memories and emotions in beautiful, evocative words. Using your talent, you can give back a little to children who are in desperate, often life-threatening situations. We all want our poetry to be read and appreciated by others. Publishing your work in Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 4 will ensure that you gain a new audience for your poetry, but that's not the most important aim! Better than this ... your poems will be helping to raise much needed funds to support children in crisis. You will also maintain ownership of your poem, and Wheelsong Books will protect and administer your copyright for you. 

To be considered for inclusion in the review process you will need to follow these instructions very carefully:

Firstly, do not bother to submit your poetry if you do not intend to buy at least one copy of the book. This is a charity publication, and all profits from Amazon sales will go to help children in crisis. If you're not prepared to invest in helping children, we won't be publishing your poetry (we are dismayed that almost two thirds of featured poets do not purchase a copy of the anthologies once they have been published!). Please give more than you take. 

Secondly, only submit poetry that is a) your own work and b) has not been subject to any other publishing agreement. Poetry you've shared on Facebook and other social media is fine. Please do not send in work that has been published elsewhere, or is subject to another publishing contract. That could lead to a law suit. The editorial team will reject poems if we suspect they have been either plagiarised, or generated by artificial intelligence.

Thirdly, submit up to 3 poems as either plain text or in a Word file via email to this address: wheelsong6@gmail.com. Submissions by any other means will not be considered. Poetry submitted as images or photos will not be considered, nor will links to other sites. And before you ask: There is no specific theme

Finally, all poems submitted will be subject to review by our editorial team. Your poetry will be anonymised (your name blanked out) so the editorial team can't see who you are. If your poetry is selected, you will be informed via email and a publication agreement will be sent to you for you to complete and return. Your work will be then published under your name. If your work is not accepted for publication, you will receive an email informing you of the team's decision. No correspondence other than via email will be valid. Please don't try to text or direct message us. We won't answer. 

The window for submission is now open, and will be closed on Tuesday 2 April. Any submissions received after this date will be rejected. If there is an extension to this date, you will be informed. The editors' decisions are final. 

NB: Shorter poems are more likely to be accepted for publication than longer pieces - space will be limited in the book due to resource and production limitations. Several poetry groups will participate, including Invisible Poets, Wheelsong Poetry, Pure Poetry and Safe Haven. Poets from outside these groups are also eligible to take part, so point them to this blog, and keep visiting this blog to find out news as it unfolds. We look forward to reading your submissions. Good luck! 

Steve Wheeler (Editor in Chief) 

Photo courtesy of Save the Children

Wednesday, 6 December 2023

Why Save The Children?


The publication of the Wheelsong Poetry Anthology series remains one of the absolute first priorities of all things Wheelsong, with ALL proceeds going to Save The Children. Why Save The Children? What does Save The Children do?


Save The Children is a charitable organization dedicated to programs involving health, education, protection, emergency response, advocacy, and localization initiatives for children worldwide. 


A staggering 118 million kids in 116 countries around the world felt the saving impact of these programs just last year (2022)…. 5 MILLION meals went to impoverished children in U.S. areas alone… 9 MILLION kids observed a quality education (4.5 million being girls)… 4.6 MILLION mothers and 16 MILLION children improved their nutrition.. 3.8 MILLION kids rescued from violence…107 MAJOR EMERGENCIES were averted in over 70 countries.


This is just ONE story of so many… in 2010 Save The Children began the camel library in Ethiopia. The program includes 21 camels, which are traditionally used by communities in the Somali region of Ethiopia to transport goods across the hot lowland areas. Camels can carry up to 200 storybooks at a time in wooden boxes strapped to their backs. The project currently reaches over 22,000 children in 33 villages.


Mahadiya, 13, is in grade seven in a remote part of the Somali region of eastern Ethiopia COVID-19 forced her school to close. She eagerly looked forward to the “camel library” to work its way through the arid desert lands to bring her the only education she could know. She says wants to be an engineer when she grows up!


Mahadiya confided, “Many children have become herders and some walk into the bush to look for firewood. When schools were closed (during Covid), I was very sad.  However, the camel library continued to come to our village and supplied us with storybooks. I feel very happy and I am now able to borrow and take home the storybook that I would like to read.”


Children raised concerns around increases in child labor, early marriage, and abuse due to the outbreak and closure of schools. Even today Ethiopian children and their families are facing floods, desert locusts, cholera, measles, food insecurity, and rising poverty levels. 


Save The Children assured her of protection from the dangers of child labor and exploitation… in addition to providing nutrition  and education. This is only ONE child… out of 118 million. Mahadiya no doubt still waits for that camel to bring her the books she so desperately longs for.


One child. One story. One world. One cause. Wheelsong continues to support Save The Children. Wheelsong Books founder and publisher Steve Wheeler has put in the hard work, donating £2225 ($2820) so far from the Wheelsong Poetry Anthologies. His work, the editors, and the works of the poets contributing make this possible. But we have to get the books out there. 


Please consider buying one today for a

Christmas gift, or otherwise. Your contribution not only provides quality poetry… it provides a child with needs she or he will never get otherwise in a world where so little… can often mean so much.



Matt Elmore



Image from: 

Save The Children


References:

https://www.savethechildren.org/us/about-us/media-and-news/2020-press-releases/covid-19-camel-library-takes-remote-learning-to-new-levels


https://www.savethechildren.org/us/what-we-do



Monday, 18 September 2023

Poetry against Poverty


Just over a year ago, in August 2022, Wheelsong Books was planning the launch of a new initiative in partnership with the global charity Save the Children. A collaboration between the publishing company and 90 poets from around the world would yield Wheelsong Poetry Anthology - a collection of 183 original, unpublished poems. The book is still selling steadily, one year on from its September 2022 release. A second collection - Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 2 - followed in April 2023, with a larger contingent of 105 poets contributing 214 poems. Again, this book has been steadily selling copies to raise much needed funds for life-saving intervention in crisis zones across the globe. 

It's not an easy feat to conduct such a large contingent of diverse individuals, but the editorial teams have played their parts in mustering these books together. Wheelsong's third anthology is published this week. It is larger than its older siblings, with more than 220 poems from 120 poets. Again, our fervent wish is that the poetry community will get behind this initiative and purchase this book in very large numbers. At the time of writing, Wheelsong has already sent £1500.00 (approximately $1870.00) to Save the Children from book sales.

Every book sold (whether in Kindle, softcover or hardcover) will raise about £3.00 (almost $4.00) for Save the Children. According to the charity's website, one book sale can purchase 25 water purification tablets, 18 food paste sachets, 2 sterile midwife birthing kits, or 1 child hygiene kit. All of these are vital to maintain health security in areas where there is conflict or natural disaster. By buying a Wheelsong Poetry anthology, you are literally helping to save a small life somewhere in the world. 

You can read in Matt Elmore's recent post exactly what Save the Children does across the world, but here's a link that demonstrates their financial commitment to providing nutrition, healthcare, safety, shelter and education to needy children everywhere. Finally, here is a link providing you with numerous stories of how children have been helped from the funds Wheelsong and other organisations have raised throughout the last few years. 

We really hope you will get behind this initiative and purchase copies of one, two or all three anthologies, to keep and cherish, give away as gifts, donate to libraries or generally circulate across your community. We can use poetry against poverty! Thank you.

Steve Wheeler

Image © Wheelsong Books 2023

Thursday, 14 September 2023

Charity And Poetry




As we approach the introduction of the brand new  Wheelsong Anthology Three next week, an article considering the scope of what Wheelsong does is in order. 


Wheelsong Books was formed by Steve Wheeler, and is currently dedicated to funding Save The Children through the total profits of an ongoing poetry series. This series contains many stellar works of a number of both established and little known poets, all of which demonstrate exemplary work in their craft.


There are so many charitable organizations out there, and causes as well.  Some charitable causes include issues related to addiction, race, the blind, cancer, child protection, civil rights, consumer rights, environmental, and health. Also included would be those dealing with housing, human rights, human services, hunger, international relief, LGBTQ+, education, mental health, and police. Let’s not forget reproductive health, terminally ill, women’s advocacy, and youth charities!


The mission statement of Wheelsong is to contribute not only to the discovery and development of poetic talent, but also to doing our part within a global community to make a difference. This article is only a peek into a vast window of opportunities to positively influence so many lives in so many ways… whether through direct donations or by being the voice of a movement.


As an author within the Wheelsong roster… my main motivation is to making this difference. By contributing and buying the Wheelsong anthologies, whether it is one for myself, or as Christmas gifts for my loved ones, I know that all the profits are going straight to children that need the resources. Resources I have and am willing to share! 


This word from Steve Wheeler today…


                                          —


“Hi @everyone 


£3.00 can feed a malnourished child for a month. £3.00 can buy two sterile birthing kits. £3.00 can go a very long way in an area of deprivation or disaster. And guess what? £3.00 is the profit gained from every Wheelsong Poetry Anthology sold on Amazon. 


Wheelsong Books has so far donated £1500.00 to Save the Children from book sales. We would love to send more. If every member of Invisible Poets bought one copy, we could send another £22,000 to help kids in crisis!


This book is published on 19th September. Will you buy into the Wheelsong vision? Poetry against poverty!”


                                           —


For those who live in fields of plenty… a little can mean a lot… to those who have such a small amount of anything. 


Please consider buying a Wheelsong Anthology and keep hope alive for impoverished children around the world.



Matt Elmore




Resources:

Top Rated Charities— 

www.charity watch.com

Types Of Giving: The ABCs Of Donations—            

www.copecorrales.com


Image provided by: Unsplash

Wednesday, 13 September 2023

Beyond Poetry - Wheelsong Anthology 3

 



The emphasis of the mission statement of Wheelsong Books is not solely about poetry. It is really about poverty.


Wheelsong is coming out next week with a brand new Anthology Three in a series of absolutely new poems to knock the socks off the poetry world! However, the purpose of these books is not  to demonstrate the immense talent that makes up the roster of the Wheelsong poets. It is about children in need. 


ALL of the proceeds to Wheelsong Anthology Three are going to Save The Children, an international organization and movement designed for the sole purpose of helping impoverished children around the entire world. 


In 2021 alone, Save The Children supported 183 million children, distributing 22.8 million meals to children living in poverty in America alone… helped 12 million children access quality education – including more than 6.2 million girls… improved the nutrition of 3.2 million mothers and 10.1 million children… responded to 103 emergencies in more than 80 countries.


It employs vastly effective health, education, and protection programs, in addition to emergency response.


Just this morning Steve Wheeler listed this statement for the Invisible Poets Group on Facebook. “I just sent in another £375 donation to Save the Children from the sales of Wheelsong Poetry Anthologies. We are making a difference. Wheelsong Poetry Anthology Books 1 and 2 are still available for purchase on Amazon and Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 3 will be published next week! Thank you to all who are supporting this amazing effort to bring aid to children in crisis around the world!”


By purchasing Wheelsong Anthology III next week with a reasonable contribution, you can make a difference in a child’s life in so many ways… and also receive a FANTASTIC  book of the most professional quality selected poems.


Wheelsong publisher Steve Wheeler also had this to say of the ongoing Anthology series….


“Money is a terrible master but a great servant. Some of the money we recently sent went to purchase food paste sachets for malnourished children. Some went to fund a camel library to reach unschooled children in Ethiopia. Some went to support orphaned children in Ukraine. Purchase a copy of one of the Anthologies and you'll be helping.”


Please consider this today. The Wheelsong Anthologies are all available on Amazon. Buy one or all three!!!


Children really are suffering now. This is a wonderful way to support them and receive an incredible gift of beyond beautiful poetry in the process…



Matt Elmore



Image By: Save The Children Foundation

Invisible Poets Anthology 4

I find it amazing that a small germ of an idea from three years ago has slowly evolved into a large, vibrant and creative community of poets...