Are you a rising poet based in the North of England?
Our New Northern Poets programme is run in partnership with The University of Leeds Poetry Centre. The programme discovers and promotes new poets in the North of England, particularly those from backgrounds currently underrepresented within the cultural and publishing sector. It’s a unique paid opportunity for poets to develop their craft, receive 1:1 mentoring and take part in public performances and commissions.
Applications for the 2026 New Northern Poets mentoring and development programme open in Spring 2026. Register your interest here to find out more and be notified when we open for applications.
Find out more about the programme and our current and previous New Northern Poets here.
New Northern Poetry Online Workshops
Experiment with poetry and hone your poetic voice in this series of online writing workshops led by our New Northern Poets.
Poetry in Motion with Vanessa Napolitano
10 Jan 2026, 2pm-4pm
Online via Zoom
£12
Your daily commute to work. The bus into town. A train out of the city. These journeys might feel unremarkable, but there’s a spark of a poem within each of them.
In this poetry workshop led by New Northern Poet Vanessa Napolitano, you’ll explore examples of poetry on the move – poems written from the commute, poems about train journeys and changing scenery. Napolitano will show you how to find inspiration from transitional spaces and the everyday landscapes you pass through in order to turn that motion into poetry.
The Poetry Prescription with Nigeen Dara
15 Feb 2026, 6pm-8pm
Online via Zoom
£12
Have you ever felt burnt out by the stresses and pressures of day-to-day life? Are you looking for creative ways to improve your mental wellbeing?
In this unique workshop, New Northern Poet and doctor Nigeen Dara shows you how poetry and creative writing can help to tackle feelings of exhaustion, cynicism and detachment and help you to care for your mental wellbeing. Join us for an exploration of burnout and try your hand at writing exercises that lighten the load.
Breaking the Rules in Poetry with Nóra Blascsók
14 Mar 2026, 2pm-4pm
Online via Zoom
£12
We’ve all come up against certain ‘rules’ in our writing before. Bits of wisdom our teachers, craft books and peers impress upon us to help us write that ‘masterpiece’ and get published. Rules like: Don’t use adjectives! Never use the word ‘shard’. Show, don’t tell!
In this workshop, New Northern Poet Nóra Blascsók shares examples of accomplished poems that break the rules and explores how you can use these as jumping-off points to push boundaries in your own writing. Join for a rule-bending and breaking workshop with exercises that turn poetry on its head.