Jerwood Poetry Fellow Jamie Hale, pictured, is launching the UK’s first Disabled Poets prize in collaboration with Spread the Word, Verve Poetry Press, Verve Poetry Festival, and CRIPtic Arts. The prize is aimed at finding the best work created by UK based deaf and disabled poets, in written English and in British Sign Language.

Deaf and disabled poets will be able to submit to three categories – best single poem, best unpublished pamphlet, and best poem performed in British Sign Language. In each category, there will be a first place prize (£500), second prize (£250), third place prize (£100), and three highly commended entries, (£50).

The prize offers professional development opportunities for the winning writers, including a publication deal with Verve Poetry Press for the best unpublished pamphlet as well as development prizes from The Literary Consultancy and Arvon Foundation.

The prize opens for entries on Thursday 1 September 2022 and closes for entries on Monday 31 October 2022 at 1pm. Deaf and disabled poets can enter online or by post. More details

Jamie Hale is a poet, script/screenwriter and essayist based in London, whose work often explores the disabled body, nature, and mortality. Jamie is also the founder of CRIPtic Arts, an organisation showcasing and developing work by and for d/Deaf and disabled creatives.

PHOTOGRAPH: CN LESTER