Lauren Hawkesworth named Worcestershire’s Young Poet Laureate 2026–2027

Now in its sixteenth year, the Worcestershire Young Poet Laureate competition continues to champion the county’s most talented young writers.

This year, poets explored the theme of Freedom, producing work that impressed with its creativity, insight, and emotional depth. The finalists captivated the judges at The Hive in Worcester with performances that highlighted both their writing skill and stage performance.

Special congratulations go to London Ward, winner in the School Year 6, 7, and 8 category, and Mercedes Ampomah, winner in the School Year 9, 10, and 11 category.

Councillor Ian Cresswell, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Environment and Communities at Worcestershire County Council, said: "Congratulations to Lauren and to all this year’s finalists who put on a brilliant showcase at The Hive. It was inspiring to see such creativity, confidence, and heart put into every performance, highlighting the incredible talent of Worcestershire’s young people."

Jen Loffman, Community Producer for Severn Arts said: “We’re really proud to see such a wide range of voices and backgrounds getting involved in this year’s competition. The standard was so high it made choosing a winner tough, but that just shows how much talent is out there. We’re excited to see what Lauren will do during her year in the role.”

The competition provides a valuable platform for young poets to express themselves, gain recognition, and share their work with the wider community. Just reaching the final is a remarkable achievement, and the standard of entries this year was exceptionally high.

The 2026 Anthology, featuring poems from finalists and other entries, will be published soon, celebrating the creativity and voices of Worcestershire’s young writers and will be available to view on the County Council and Severn Arts websites. 

As Young Poet Laureate, Lauren will act as an ambassador for creative writing, inspiring other young people to explore poetry. She will take part in a range of projects throughout the year, have her work published, and perform at events and festivals.

Read Lauren’s winning poems on our Young Poet Laureate webapage.