We are delighted to announce the winners of the Disabled Poets Prize 2025. 

Disabled writers face significant barriers to developing their careers. The Disabled Poets Prize brings the work of the winning poets to new prominence, focusing attention on the exceptional work being produced by d/Deaf and disabled writers*. 

Established in 2023 by Jerwood Poetry Fellow Jamie Hale, the prize looks to find the best work created by UK-based d/Deaf and disabled poets. The 2025 winners of the prize were announced on Saturday 29 March at an event broadcast as part of the Deptford Literature Festival programme.  

The 2025 prize is made possible by the support of ALCS (Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society).  

Entries across two categories, Best Unpublished Pamphlet and Best Single Poem were judged by poets Khairani Barokka, Polly Atkin and the prize’s founder, poet Jamie Hale. 

Prize-winners and all shortlisted writers will receive career development opportunities courtesy of competition partners Spread the Word, CRIPtic Arts, The Literary Consultancy and Arvon Foundation. The winner of the Best Unpublished Pamphlet prize will also be offered the opportunity to have their book published by Verve Poetry Press. In each category, there is a first place prize (£500), second prize (£250) and third place prize (£100), with a handful of highly commended entries awarded £50.  

The winners and shortlisted entries for the 2025 Disabled Poets Prize are:

Best Single Poem  

First place: Oli Isaac for to whom / it may / concern 

Oli Isaac commented: “This prize is a source of immense pride and gratitude. I want to thank the judges of this prize – the existence of which is so exciting. Poetry was the first space where I truly found a voice – it has always felt, instinctually, like a way of being heard. I remember reciting poems in front of a mirror as a child, a task given to me by an early speech therapist. To now be at a stage in my writing career where my work is recognised with an award remains surreal – but also profoundly meaningful on a personal level. This poem, at its core, is about communication and its difficulties. I am endlessly grateful for opportunities like this that allow me to cross that gap and connect to others with my words.” 

Second place: Imogen McHugh with After her recruitment  

Third place: Olivia Tuck with according to the many who loved her. 

The highly commended entries are Khushi Bajaj with My School has 4.4 stars on Google Maps, Alex Mepham with The Blue Hour, Husna Memon with My Father Has Three Tongues and Erinma Ochu with How to read the atmosphere. 

Best Unpublished Pamphlet

First place: Rue Collinge with HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON  

Rue Collinge said; “I think I’m still spluttering! My professional life is about giving other people a voice, even as I’ve lost my own. The last few years have been increasingly housebound, profoundly lonely at times, and filled with dragons of every size and shape. Life became small. Writing went to the bottom of the list, with my complicated health and daily life taking priority.  

It is deeply affirming to be selected as one of the winners this year. It gives me hope – with bones in! – that my writing has impact.  Thank you to my Saturday suns – my husband, family, friends, and patient poetry pals. You fill my life with colour! Thank you to the medical professionals who have gone above and beyond to tackle my wonky body, and help me build a new normal. And thank you, thank you, thank you to Polly Atkin, Khairani Barokka, and Jamie Hale for saying yes to wrestling a dragon.” 

Second place: Benjamin Larner with Freakshow 

Third place: Jessica Boatwright with Burst. 

The highly commended entries are Hazel McMichael with Forgetting, Sarah O’Connor with A Cloudburst of Women, and Erika Phoenix with Welcome to Post Carolina. 

Jamie Hale, founder of the Disabled Poets Prize, said: “The work we read as judges was compelling, diverse in form, tone, and topic, sharing narratives, exploring and exploding poetry and language. It was a privilege to be trusted by so many writers, and the difficulty in decision-making we had as judges reflects the incredible expanse of the poetry being created by disabled people at the moment. The longlisted, shortlisted, and winning work represents a fantastic – and small – fragment of the poetry out there from disabled writers. I hope the prize brings real attention not only to the exceptional quality of the winning work but also the importance of investing in, supporting, and developing disabled writers – who are still facing barriers across the wider industry.” 

Barbara Hayes, Chief Executive of ALCS, said: “Empowering and supporting writers from every background is particularly significant in today’s climate. The incredible work that the Disabled Poets Prize does in uplifting and amplifying the voices of d/Deaf and disabled writers is both vital and inspiring and ALCS is proud to be a supporter of this year’s prize.”  

Ruth Harrison, Director of Spread the Word, said: “ Now, more than ever, we need to continue to invest in creating accessible spaces and development opportunities for underrepresented writers. It’s an absolute pleasure to be a partner on the Disabled Poets Prize and to be part of supporting and raising the profile of talented disabled poets from across the UK.” 

Stuart Bartholomew, Verve Poetry Press founder and editor, said: “We always look forward to hearing who is judged winner in the pamphlet category of the Disabled Poets Prize, and to working with the winning poet on bringing their pamphlet out as part of our autumn schedule. Following on from wonderful works from Susie Wilson and Katherine Moss, we are looking forward to adding Rue Collinge’s wonderful How to Train Your Dragon to this very esteemed list.” 

The Disabled Poets Prize is a collaboration between Spread the Word, Verve Poetry Press, and CRIPtic Arts in partnership with The Literary Consultancy and Arvon Foundation. The Disabled Poets Prize is supported by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS). 

* By d/Deaf and/ or disabled poets we mean poets who have faced disablist and/or audist barriers in accessing their careers, and poets who consider themselves to be d/Deaf or disabled. This includes: d/Deaf, d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing people, blind and visually impaired people, people with mobility and energy-limiting impairments, chronic illnesses, mental health conditions or experience of mental distress, and/ or learning disabilities, and neurodivergent people. We also include other people who have experienced barriers accessing the poetry sector related to their experience as people living with chronic or long-term health conditions or impairments not otherwise discussed.