The Young Poet Laureate (YPL) is a competition for young people aged 11 – 18 years to showcase their talent in writing poetry. The competition has been running for over 10 years, it is free to enter and supported by workshops and specialist coaching for finalists, 2024 saw a record number of budding poets apply.
As young poet Laureate, this year’s winner Iona Campbell will take part in various projects throughout the year, have her work published, and perform at events and festivals. Read Iona’s winning poem ‘Word Metamorphosis’.
Dr Lisa McNally, Director of Public Health for Worcestershire County Council said: “The Young Poet Laureate competition is a great opportunity for young people to unleash their creativity, build their confidence, and make new friendships. Congratulations to this year’s winners and to all our finalists for their fantastic performances!”
Worcestershire Young Poet Laureate is run jointly by Severn Arts and Worcestershire Libraries and funded by Worcestershire County Council, Public Health.
In 2023, Worcestershire’s Young Poet Laureate Caleb Simon was commissioned to write and perform a poem for Youth Mental Health Day. You can watch the video below:
Caleb said: “It’s had an immeasurable impact on my confidence and self-esteem. Before starting this project, I never could have dreamt of getting up on a stage to read my own poetry, but I’ve discovered that the stage actually offers me a place to be authentically me and to have a great time doing it! I’ve met some of the most incredible people and found so much comfort in the art form.”
To read more about Worcestershire’s Young Poet Laureate and read the 2024 competition Anthology, visit the Severn Arts website: Young Poet Laureate 2024 | Severn Arts