Imagine the Future: National Poetry Project with Lemn Sissay & Griot Gabriel
During the first half of 2026, Griot Gabriel and 5 other nationally acclaimed poets delivered workshops to over 2,300 children across the UK, as part of a project that forms part of a public installation at the Southbank Centre, transforming their words into lasting cultural artwork.
Led by renowned poet Lemn Sissay, the project brings together a team of poet educators including Griot Gabriel, working nationally to ignite a love of poetry and amplify young voices
Over 90 lines of poetry created with thousands of children from London, Birmingham and Manchester will be exhibited across the Southbank Centre as part of the 75th anniversary project Imagine The Future during the Poetry International Festival 2026.
For more information, availability and bookings please visit our contact page or email gabriel@the-poetryplace.com
The first cohort of Griot Gang workshops has now completed, and here is some feedback from participants. If you’d like to be part of our upcoming workshops, follow the link to join our online sessions taking place in July. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced writer, these sessions are designed to help you develop your voice, sharpen your craft, and connect with a powerful creative community.
This workshops was extremely thorough and helped me build healthy writing habits and utilise new techniques I’ll definitely be using now.
When I started the workshop series I was extremely burned out and unable to write poems, But attending the weekly workshops helped me ease back into writing and building healthy writing habits and relationships with my craft. I was also able to write a few poems after attending the workshops.
These Workshops really helped me to think about being more intentional with my writing and more confident as a performer. It introduced me to new writing techniques and writers I hadn't heard of and allowed me to collaborate with fellow writers in a way I had not done before. I loved being part of them!
Creative Writing Workshops
We deliver creative writing workshops to primary & secondary schools, youth clubs and bespoke groups across the North West. We aim for participants to develop their inner creativity, have a better understanding of different types of poetry, poetic devices and language skills. This is done through activities that are reflective, fun and promote self-expression, Our services can also provide performances and discussions in pathways to engaging the creative arts. We always encourage our participants to share and celebrate their poetry after workshops, to recognise the power and importance of their thoughts and words on their immediate world. Workshops can be tailored for singular or reoccurring sessions as part of an educational curriculum.
Beneficiaries of our workshops include:
- Manchester United
- The Black Curriculum
- Manchester Probation Service
- Everton Free School
- Cedar Mount High School
- Intergrate UK Youth Project
- St. Peter's High School
- M13 Youth Project
- Aquarius Youth Project
- Hideaway Youth Project
- Broadfield Primary School
- J17 Young People's NHS Mental Health Ward
For more information, availability and bookings please visit our contact page or email gabriel@the-poetryplace.com
