Could you be Warwickshire Libraries’ Young Poet Laureate 2025/26?
Warwickshire Libraries are delighted to announce that the competition to become Young Poet Laureate 2025/26 is now open. The search is on for the county's eleventh Young Poet Laureate, who will succeed Ananditha Venkatramanan in the role for 2025/26.
The competition is open to anyone aged between 13 and 17 who lives and is educated in Warwickshire and who would like to perform their own poetry to an audience. Our Young Poet Laureate will take part in events and activities across the county and is offered the mentorship of a professional poet. Past Warwickshire Young Poet Laureates have performed on the radio, on film, at festivals and led their own poetry workshops.
Just some of the events you can be involved with as Young Poet Laureate include:
- Performing at Warwickshire School Library Service Secondary and Junior Book Awards ceremonies
- Hosting poetry workshops at our libraries
- Being a special guest at reading groups for young people in our libraries
- Performing at poetry events in our libraries
- Being commissioned to write a poem for Warwickshire Libraires’ What’s On guide
- Plus so much more!
Applications are now welcome before the deadline of midnight on Thursday 2 October 2025. The judges will then get to work and shortlisted candidates will be notified by Friday 24 October.
Our shortlisted candidates will be invited to take part in a Selection Day which includes a workshop with a professional poet, a short individual interview with our judges and a performance in front of an audience at a public event. This will take place at Rugby Library on Saturday 29 November. Please ensure when applying that you are available on this date.
How to apply
Applicants need to:
- Be 13-17 years old.
- Live and be educated in Warwickshire.
- Fill in our Application Form (you can apply online using the link below or download and print the form).
- Submit three poems. One should be inspired by Warwickshire; one should be about or inspired by libraries and the third can be of your own choosing.
- Submit a personal statement and explain in 250 words:
1. Why you want to be Warwickshire Libraries’ Young Poet Laureate
2. How you would promote poetry to the diverse range of people - (Optional) Send a video performing poetry.
or you can download the form (PDF 84 KB) - see below for instructions about submitting.
The closing date is Thursday 2 October 2025 at midnight.
Entries can be submitted online (using the 'Apply online' link above) or emailed to libraryevents@warwickshire.gov.uk. Alternatively, printed entries can be posted to The Reading and Learning Team, Unit 4, WCC Hawkes Point, 1 Hawkes Drive, Heathcote Industrial Estate, Warwick, CV34 6LX (they must arrive by 5pm on Thursday 2 October 2025).
Data Privacy and Use Statement: We need this information in order to accept and assess your application for the Young Poet Laureate position. We need a way to communicate with you. We will store your details in a way that protects your privacy and process it under the lawful basis of public task. You can read our full Privacy Notice at warwickshire.gov.uk/privacyls.
For more information about the Young Poet Laureate scheme or if you have any questions about the application process, please email libraryevents@warwickshire.gov.uk.
The Young Poet Laureate competition is run by Warwickshire Libraries and supported by Arts Council England.
Warwickshire Libraries’ Young Poet Laureate 2024/25
Our tenth Warwickshire Young Poet Laureate 2024/25 is Ananditha Venkatramanan from Rugby High School.
On Saturday 9 November 2024 at Rugby Library, four talented and wonderful shortlisted candidates joined us for a day of poetry.
Candidates took part in a 90 minute workshop with Coventry Poet Laureate 2021/23, Emilie Lauren Jones, who shared creative tips and advice about how to successfully deliver poetry performances.
The candidates then each took part in interviews in front of a judging panel, which consisted of delivering a poetry performance and answering a series of questions, including sharing their ideas about the Young Poet Laureate role. The day culminated in the judges selecting Ananditha as Young Poet Laureate 2024/25.
So far during her appointment Ananditha has:
- been commissioned to write a poem to be featured on the front of the Warwickshire Libraries What’s On Guide for Spring/Summer 2025
- been filmed performing her commissioned poem at Rugby Library
- been interviewed on Radio Abbey sharing Christmas poetry (including a poem she had written herself)
- performed at a Poetry Open Mic Night at Leamington Library.
For the rest of her appointment, Ananditha will be:
- performing at Warwickshire School Library Service’s Secondary and Junior Book Awards ceremonies
- performing at the Warwickshire Youth Conference
- performing at the Warwickshire and Coventry Schools Poetry Slam
- commissioned to write a poem for Rugby Art Gallery and Museum for an upcoming exhibition
- performing at Coleshill Library’s Poetry Open Mic Night
- visiting the Warwick Library reading group for young people
- hosting a workshop as part of Rugby Literary Festival.
(Plus lots more!)