By KLTV Newsdesk –

The next generation of West Yorkshire’s Young Poets Laureate has been unveiled, with Max from Pontefract and Ayeshah from Calderdale taking the prestigious titles.

The announcement was made by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and National Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, following a region-wide search to uncover and celebrate young creative talent.

A Celebration of Young Voices

Hundreds of pupils in school years four and nine submitted poems as part of the initiative, launched by the National Literacy Trust in October 2023.

Professional poets collaborated with teachers to inspire children to explore their creativity, highlighting how writing and communication skills can open doors to lifelong opportunities.

Max, the Year Four winner, captivated judges with his humorous poem, “Seven Things Found in My Mum’s Amazon Delivery”, while Ayeshah, the Year Nine winner, impressed with her thought-provoking piece, “Primadonna”.

Building on a Legacy

The 2025 laureates will succeed West Yorkshire’s inaugural Young Poets Laureate, Alina Brdar and Isabelle Walker, who have represented the region at high-profile events over the past year.

These included the Convention of the North, the British Library’s 50th anniversary celebrations, and the BBC’s Contains Strong Language festival.

Inspiring Words

Mayor Tracy Brabin praised the winners, saying: “Alina and Isabelle have been phenomenal ambassadors for young creativity in our region over the past year, and I can’t wait to see Max and Ayeshah follow in their footsteps.

“Our region is bursting with talent and opportunities, and all of these incredible young poets have bright futures ahead of them.”

Simon Armitage, National Poet Laureate, added: “Language is constantly changing, and young people are at the forefront of those shifts in speech and writing.

“The young laureates help us see the world with new eyes, and poetry offers a way for emerging generations to navigate their way in a complicated world.”

Addressing a Decline

Sharena Lee Satti, Project Manager at the National Literacy Trust, highlighted the importance of the initiative: “Writing for pleasure among children and young people in Yorkshire and the Humber is at an all-time low.

“We want to ensure that no child misses out on the valuable wellbeing benefits of writing for pleasure.

“The West Yorkshire Young Poet Laureate programme empowers children across the region to rediscover the joys of writing and to express themselves through poetry.”

A Vision for the Future

The Young Poets Laureate initiative was conceived by Simon Armitage and is funded by Mayor Tracy Brabin as part of her £2.3 million ‘You Can Make It Here’ campaign.

The programme aims to drive economic growth, boost skills, and inspire young people in West Yorkshire to pursue careers in the creative industries.

Celebrating Success

Max and Ayeshah were officially appointed at a celebration event held at Mind The Gap in Bradford on 26 January.

They will now serve as ambassadors for poetry, encouraging their peers to explore the power of words.

For more information, visit: National Literacy Trust – West Yorkshire Poet Laureate.