Leeds Peace Poetry
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Leeds Peace Poetry was established in 2003 by a group of people connected with Education Leeds (now Leeds Children's Services) Leeds City Council, Together for Peace and Arts at Trinity. Currently, the steering group is made up of individuals with a track record of promoting equality and peace and with an enthusiasm for poetry. Organisations represented include the School of English and The Poetry Centre at the University of Leeds, Leeds Children's Services (Schools) and Leeds Library and Information Services.
Officers
[edit]Rehana Minhas (Chair), Professor John Whale (Vice-Chair) and Richard Wilcocks (Secretary, Website).
The Competition
[edit]Since 2012, The Poetry Centre has offered writing workshops, administered the judging and hosted the prize-giving. The competition has become a well-established event which takes place every two years, attracting thousands of submissions. Its aims are to increase skills in poetry and to encourage people to explore peace and justice issues through creative writing.
Prizes are awarded in three categories: primary school, secondary school and adult. There are also school prizes for best set of entries in each of the two educational categories. Dozens of schools (not just from Leeds but often from far afield) and adults from all over the world have taken part in recent competitions. Venues for the gala prize-giving have include the university's Great Hall and Workshop Theatre.
Recent chief judges have included Emily Zobel Marshall, Matt Howard, Malika Booker, Jason Allen-Paisant, Zaffar Kunial, Simon Armitage, Helen Mort and Ian Duhig.
Recent themes have been 'Refugees', 'The Inequalities of Food', 'Global Health Justice', 'Water' and 'Fire'.
Winners
[edit]2009 - Alexander Ian Biggs and Asher Hill[1]
2020 - Sammy Weaver[2]
2020 - Elise Scotney[3]
References
[edit]- ^ "Prizes for two young Hawksworth poets [url=https://www.wharfedaleobserver.co.uk/features/features_schools/4033196.print/". Wharfedale Observer \language=en.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ "Sammy Weaver wins The Moth Nature Writing Prize for bat detecting diary". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ "Rugby High Takes the Podium In International Poetry Competition [url=https://www.rugbyhighschool.co.uk/news/?pid=3&nid=1&storyid=214". Rugby High School.
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Website - leedspeacepoetry.com