Our members Seth Connor-Fullwood and Skye Lilly, were selected as guest writers for the Forward Prizes blog in the run-up to this year’s Young Poets Summit, exploring the challenges of poetry as a career and the support arts organisations provided for young poets. 🖋️✨ Read at youngidentity.org/news

🌟 This week at Poetry Together our Executive Director Nicole May facilitated workshops for the UK-wide initiative that pairs schools with older adult communities to connect through poetry. A huge thank you to founder and host Gyles Brandreth for making this celebration possible. 💛 #PoetryTogether

‼️ We've extended our deadline to Wednesday 5th November, midnight! Apply at youngidentity.org/creating-pathways

Another great evening at the @mcrlitfest.bsky.social ‘Cabaret for Freedom’ with so much love in the house and poignant, powerful words from @salenagodden.bsky.social Nick Makoha and @youngidentitymcr.bsky.social Thank you!!! 🧡

🚀  We are currently onboarding new participants for our Creating Pathways programme, which expands learning for Young Identity members, offering opportunities in youth governance, event production, publishing and workshop facilitation.  Register at https://www.youngidentity.org/creating-pathways

🌿 Island to Island Join our brand new bursary supported, digital cultural exchange project, connecting writers from the UK 🇬🇧 and the Philippines 🇵🇭 in partnership with @mtcloudbaguio.bsky.social. 📧 How to apply: youngidentity.org/opportunities ‼️ Deadline: 9th Nov Supported by britishcouncil.org.

🚀  We are currently onboarding new participants for our Creating Pathways programme, which expands learning for Young Identity members, offering opportunities in youth governance, event production, publishing and workshop facilitation.  Register at https://www.youngidentity.org/creating-pathways

Last night we launched The Big Picture Show with Imperial War Museums and Soup Collective, marking 50 years since the Pan African Congress in Manchester. Hosted by Reece Williams, Young Identity poets shared work honouring the voices and stories of the time. ✊🏾 Huge thank you to everyone involved.

📓 We are currently onboarding new participants for our Creating Pathways programme, which expands learning for members, offering opportunities in youth governance, production, publishing and workshop facilitation. Register: www.youngidentity.org/creating-pathways Deadline: 2nd November

We have a brand new project callout for Young Identity members from Waterside Arts - Prism Festival. Read more at youngidentity.org/opportunities to see how to sign up and take part. Deadline: Sun 19 Oct, midnight For more information about Prism Festival visit prismfestival.org

📕 Do you have your tickets yet? Saturday 18th October 7:30pm

📕Celebrate the vibrant spirit of community and power of spoken word at WritersMosaic, Cabaret for Freedom, and Manchester Multilingual City Poets 📗Come along to our Family Birthday Bash plus other fantastic events for children and families www.manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk🎟️🎟️🎟️

We can't wait to have you! 🫶🏽📚

Don't forget to grab your tickets to our evening with @mcrlitfest.bsky.social est.bsky.social; Cabaret for Freedom Saturday 18th October 🎫 Tickets - www.manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/cabaret-for-freedom-with-salena-godden-nick-makoha-j-chambers-young-identity

Those from Distant Lands: Chapter 2 Film, photography and spoken word exploring South Asian heritage in Pendle and how those early explorers built the community that we see today. 🗓️ 18th and 19th October 📍 Burnley Youth Theatre Free Tickets: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/respect-and-dignity-arts

An evening with @mcrlitfest.bsky.social, celebrating the legacy of writer, dub poet and political activist Benjamin Zephaniah. Saturday 18th October 🎫 Tickets - www.manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/cabaret-for-freedom-with-salena-godden-nick-makoha-j-chambers-young-identity

This weekend our board came together for an away day to focus on our key aims for the next three years. It was a brilliant day of skill sharing, reflection and forward planning, all with the goal to continue to create opportunities and provide meaningful platforms for young people.  ✨

✨ Support the next generation of voices ✨ Young Identity empowers young people to create, write, perform and take up space. With your support, we can continue to nurture creativity, confidence and community. Donate today at youngidentity.org/support-us #SupportTheArts

An evening with @mcrlitfest.bsky.social, celebrating the legacy of writer, dub poet and political activist Benjamin Zephaniah. Saturday 18th October 🎫 Tickets - www.manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/cabaret-for-freedom-with-salena-godden-nick-makoha-j-chambers-young-identity

We’ve partnered with Three Meem Foundation (3meem.org) for a FREE 6-week poetry course with Nasima Bee! 🌱 Boost your English, unlock creativity + get 1:1 mentoring 🗓 Fridays | 12 Sept–17 Oct 🕕 6-8pm 📍 Coppice Library, Sale 🎯 Ages 14 -18 Limited places – https://www.youngidentity.org/opportunities

Incredible shots from BREATHE, where spoken word artists and dancers teamed up to deliver one story through duet. Huge thanks to the poets, dancers, host Reggie “Roc” Gray, headliners Banks Artiste & Jardel Rodrigues, and the team who brought it all to life. 📷 Photos: Alex Morgan

What’s the best piece of theatre, poetry, or live performance you’ve seen this year in Manchester? 🎭✨ What made it stick with you?

🎟️Tickets are now on sale for our 4 early-released events of #MLF25! Head to our website www.manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk to grab your tickets🎟️ And don’t forget to sign up to our mailing list to get updates about our full programme✨

Two days left to submit to July’s POTM. www.vervepoetryfestival.com/july-potm

As a continuation of their Imperial War Museum commission on the Pan African Anniversary. Our poets are working alongside soupcollective.co.uk they’re developing work to premiere this October as part of The Big Picture Show. #PanAfrican80 #IWM

Join us for the launch of Creation Through Form, a stunning new poetry anthology with art by Matthew Baines, developed by our Publishers Team. 🗓️ Mon 14 July, 7pm 📍 HOME 🔗 Free RSVP: tinyurl.com/Creation-Through-Form-RSVP Come celebrate and grab your copy!

🇳🇱 We had a brilliant time in Rotterdam with One Mic Stand On Tour.  📝 The trip also included Open mic performances at PoetsClub Rotterdam, rehearsals at WORM and of course, the warm hospitality of Poetry Slam Rotterdam and their hosts 💐🫱🏾‍🫲🏽

One Mic Stand ON TOUR joins Poetry Slam Rotterdam! Kyia KB and Teni from Young Identity will headline an electrifying night of spoken word on 5 June, 19:00 at Centrale Bibliotheek Rotterdam. Don’t miss this powerful showcase! Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/poetryslamrotterdam/?hl=en

BREATHE is back! We’re calling on artists to step into the spotlight for a high-energy dance and spoken word duet slam, where pairs go head-to-head in a fusion of movement and verse. 🗓️ Apply by Tuesday 10 June (16+ only) 🔗 Learn more: 

Specialist Class: Unheard Voices of Revolution and the Exploration of Its Colour 🗓️ Today 13 May, 5:30pm 📍 Manchester Central Library Join director Ali Gadema to explore the voices behind movements and what it means to tell stories from the margins. Register at www.youngidentity.org/register

🏫 Free Creative Writing Workshops with @stretford.bsky.social  🗓️ Every Thursday starting 15th May 🕕 6pm 📍 Stretford Public Hall If you’re interested in developing your writing or would just like to meet other local young creatives - no experience needed! Register: youngidentity.org/opportunities

Young Identity and Tha Game Changa are running free creative writing & performance workshops at Old Trafford Boys & Girls Club. 💬 Build confidence 📚 Boost literacy 🧠 Support wellbeing 🎤 Perform your work live! Every Friday from 2 May at 6:30pm Ages 8–16 Register at youngidentity.org/opportunities

☄️ One Mic Stand May Headliner Announced⁠  ⁠ Ragz-CV ⁠ 🗓️ Wed 21 May 7:00pm⁠ 📍 The Blues Kitchen Manchester ⁠ 🎟️ Tickets: youngidentity.org/one-mic-stand

❤️‍🔥 One Mic Stand May Headliner Announced⁠ ⁠ GVANI⁠ ⁠ 🗓️ Wed 21 May 7:00pm⁠ 📍 The Blues Kitchen Manchester ⁠ 🎟️ Tickets: youngidentity.org/one-mic-stand

Be sure to catch tomorrow's special edition workshop at the @aiucentre.bsky.social where we will be accessing the Pan-African Legacy archive and celebrating 80 years since the Congress met here in Manchester. This is a part of our collab with Imperial War Museum and Soup Collective.

🚨 Poets, MCs, lyricists and spoken word artists aged 18-30. BBC Words First is back and open for applications. 🤲🏽 Apply: youngidentity.org/opportunities 🗓 Deadline: Mon 12 May Develop your work with Apples and Snakes and Young Identity and if selected, will perform at the Bradford festival! 🎤🔥

💥 Manchester’s slam night is back Wednesday 21st May at The Blues Kitchen - Manchester ⁠ 🎟️ Grab tickets from £10 and maybe even apply to slam at youngidentity.org/one-mic-stand ⁠ 🗓️ Wednesday 21st May 🕖 7:00pm⁠

🏆 Three minutes could win you the title and a cash prize! One Mic Stand is an night of music and spoken word with Special Guest headliners.⁠ 🗓️ Wednesday 21st May 🕖 7:00pm⁠ 📍The Blues Kitchen Manchester Slam applications close 7th May. Apply at www.youngidentity.org/one-mic-stand

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate the brand new Rhymes & Bars EP, supporting the artists involved and hearing insights from industry artists. 🎤 🔥 You can stream the full EP here soundcloud.com/youngidentit... Supported by @youthmusic.bsky.social in partnership with KYSOClub

Last Saturday we celebrated women at the BeHER: Women’s Community Festival for International Women’s Day 2025. Our Young Identity poets performed as a part of the festival to a gathering of women-led communities. 💜✨ ⁠ ⁠ #IWD2025 #IWD #WomensVoices

This weekend we had our brand new commission project at Dunham Massey @nationaltrust.bsky.social. 🚦 Our poets experienced 'ORIGIN' from A Right/Left Project - a deep listening installation and created poetry that will be woven into a new soundscape for exhibition.

It was great to have you as a part of our line up, Beth! 🎤🫶🏽

This past week I've been walking around muttering my own poems under my breath in public - a sure sign of an exciting event coming up! 😄 Looking forward to performing my work in a more suitable context than the bus stop at @youngidentitymcr.bsky.social's One Mic Stand slam tonight.

One Mic Stand x @forwardprizes.bsky.social Headliners Leyla Josephine and Rumbi Tauro. 🗓️ Wed 19 Feb 7:00pm 📍 The Blues Kitchen - Manchester Tickets: link.dice.fm/7myjLoEGGQb

This looks like a very special night for spoken word fans - good luck to all the contenders!

One Mic Stand x @forwardprizes.bsky.social Headliners Leyla Josephine and Rumbi Tauro. 🗓️ Wed 19 Feb 7:00pm 📍 The Blues Kitchen - Manchester Tickets: link.dice.fm/7myjLoEGGQb

🎤 One Mic Stand is back! 🗓️ Wed 19 Feb 7:00pm 📍 The Blues Kitchen Manchester Just over two weeks until this special edition with @forwardprizes.bsky.social bringing poets from @barbicancentre.bsky.social, @thewritingsquad.bsky.social and more! 🎟️ Tickets: youngidentity.org/one-mic-stand

🇩🇰 🫱🏾‍🫲🏽 Our Artistic Director Shirley May (@shirleymaypoet44.bsky.social) is in Denmark this week, joining other cultural organisations from GM to share and exchange practice as a part of City of Aarhus’ cultural policy 2021-28. #CulturalExchange #SharingPractice

Young Identity are partnering with the Imperial War Museum. We’re inviting our registrants and alumni to help mark 80 years since the Fifth Pan-African Congress using the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Archive. 🏛️ 📧 Register your interest by Tuesday 11th February: youngidentity.org/opportunities

As 2024 wraps up, we're so grateful for the work accomplished at Young Identity! Thanks to our participants, facilitators, all our partners, Respect and Dignity Arts and funders @tnlcomfund.bsky.social @artscouncilengland.bsky.social and Youth Music 🎉 To a bright 2025 - Happy New Year! ✨