We’ve received this powerful message from poet and activist Kayla Martell Feldman , co-author of a letter that now holds over 1,700 signatures—including many from the Verve Poetry Press family. It is a call to solidarity, visibility, and action in support of trans and non-binary people, especially within our creative communities. As a press and platform that has published, celebrated, and stood beside trans and non-binary poets through our books, events, and anthologies, we are sharing this letter with our wider community in the hope that more voices will add their names to the growing call for change. Please read the full letter below, and consider signing in solidarity : An Open Letter of Solidarity With the Trans Community from UK Writers The UK Supreme Court ruling of 16th April 2025 was the result of a coordinated and privately funded attack   on the human rights and dignity   of trans and non-binary people in the UK. We call upon our industry to meet this moment with bravery and solidarity. As writers, the undersigned stand in solidarity with the trans community. The signatories of this letter attest to the fact that writers with a bioessentialist view of womanhood and a binary view of sex and gender are in the minority. We call on our industries - theatre, film, TV, radio, literature and journalism - to do the same.  As outlined by the Good Law Project , this Supreme Court hearing took place on shaky legal ground and without the involvement of any trans voices; they also noted that had any trans organisations been involved, they would likely have been faced with harassment and threats. The UK has become an increasingly hostile place for trans and non-binary people, with a   186% increase in hate crimes against trans people in the last five years . We are deeply concerned that this ruling will embolden a bigoted but powerful minority in their harassment of trans and non-binary people and attempts to hound gender non-conforming people out of public spaces. This will have consequences not just for trans people but for anyone who deviates from gender norms, making society less safe for everyone. This Supreme Court ruling contributes to the erosion of the rights of marginalised LGBTQ+ communities globally. This has been seen recently in Uganda , Hungary  and the US , to name only a few examples. Transparency International UK, which aims to fight corruption worldwide,   warned two months ago about the impact of private donors’ influence in British politics , “with the US showing what could happen here if money in politics is left unchecked”.  The recent nomination lists for the Olivier Awards, the Booker Prize, and the T.S. Eliot Prize demonstrate the power of stories that challenge bigotry and intolerance, with LGBTQ+ writers and artists making vital contributions to the broad landscape of arts and culture, public discourse, and the economy. Cultural conversations are hugely important to how people are perceived and treated in society, and it is paramount that trans visibility, representation and protection be an ongoing and sustained commitment for all arts organisations going forward, with quantifiable efforts to promote trans voices and stories. We applaud Equity’s swift and emphatic response to the ruling , and the specificity of their next steps of active support for their trans and non-binary members, and we call upon others to join them. We urge other unions, theatres, agencies, publishers, and news outlets to sign this letter and make their own statements of how they will actively support their trans and non-binary staff, contractors, and service users. Total Current Signatures: 1,752 Click here to add your name  (please note this list is updated manually) LINKS: www.thestage.co.uk/news/michaela-coel-and-james-graham-demand-active-support-for-transgender-people

If you can't make the festival, we're hosting the workshops again of the coming months so you don't miss out. This series offers a unique opportunity to engage with acclaimed poets and enhance your writing skills from the comfort of your home. Each workshop is designed to inspire creativity, explore various poetic forms, and provide a supportive environment for both emerging and established poets. Workshop Details: The Spring 2025 series will feature a diverse lineup of workshops covering various themes and techniques. Participants can expect interactive sessions that include writing exercises, discussions, and group feedback. All workshops will be conducted via Zoom, ensuring accessibility for poetry enthusiasts worldwide. Workshop Packages: Dozen Workshops Spring 2025 From £179.47 Half Dozen Workshops From £90.00 Trio of Workshops From £49.50 Individual Workshops: Ruth Padel Workshop - The Swerve Tue, Mar 4 • 7:00 PM • From £18.50 Helen Calcutt Workshop - Visiting Mary Tue, Mar 11 • 7:00 PM • From £18.50 Pascale Petit Workshop - Writing the Animal Tue, Mar 18 • 7:00 PM • From £18.50 Aoife Lyall Workshop - Soundscape Tue, Mar 25 • 7:00 PM • From £18.50 Theresa Lola Workshop - After Poems Tue, Apr 8 • 7:00 PM • From £18.50 Scarlett Ward Workshop - Speaking the Silences Tue, Apr 15 • 7:00 PM • From £18.50 Anthony Vahni Capildeo Workshop - Valentines Hot & Cold Tue, Apr 22 • 7:00 PM • From £18.50 Marjorie Lotfi Workshop - What is Home if Not a Choice? T ue, Apr 29 • 7:00 PM • From £18.50 Richard Scott Workshop - Ancestry, Intertextuality and Ghosts Tue, May 6 • 7:00 PM • From £18.50 Susannah Dickey Workshop - Lyric Shame Tue, May 20 • 7:00 PM • From £18.50 Victoria Kennefick Workshop - A Family Affair Tue, May 27 • 7:00 PM • From £18.50 Carrie Etter Workshop - The Wall Thin as a Wren's Bone: Simile in Poetry Tue, Jun 3 • 7:00 PM • From £18.50 Meet The Editor - A 1-2-1 Bespoke Power Injection for Your Poetry Tue, Jun 10 • 7:00 PM • From £59.99 Key Features: Expert Guidance:  Learn from experienced poets who will share their insights and provide constructive feedback. Interactive Sessions:  Engage in live discussions and collaborative exercises to refine your craft. Flexible Access:  Join live sessions or access recorded workshops at your convenience. How to Register: Stay tuned for updates on the official VERVE Poetry Festival website and Eventbrite page for detailed information on workshop schedules, facilitators, and registration links. Spaces may be limited, so we encourage early registration to secure your spot. Join Us: Whether you're looking to delve into new poetic forms, seek inspiration, or connect with a community of fellow writers, the VERVE Poetry Zoom Workshop Series is the perfect platform to elevate your poetry journey. We look forward to writing with you this spring! Note: For the most current information and to register for workshops, please visit the VERVE Poetry Festival Eventbrite page.

Can’t make it to VERVE in person? No problem!  Experience the vibrant energy and incredible performances from anywhere in the world with our live-streamed events . All events are streamed live  and available to re-watch for up to one month after the festival . Whether you’re in a different time zone or juggling a busy schedule, you can immerse yourself in the festival at your own pace. Why Attend VERVE Online? Global Access:  Join from anywhere in the world—no travel required. Flexible Viewing:  Missed a session? No problem! Re-watch all events up to a month after the festival. Exclusive Content:  Gain access to performances, readings, and workshops featuring some of the best voices in contemporary poetry. Community Connection:  Engage with fellow poetry lovers online and stay connected to the VERVE community. VERVE 2025 Online Events Tickets to all our streamed events are available to watch via secure link on YouTube LIVE  from the festival. Here’s what’s on: Online Pass: All Streamed Events Wednesday • 8:30 PM • From £38.62 LOUD POETS SLAM 2025 BIRMINGHAM HEAT at VERVE Thursday • 7:30 PM • From £8.30 THE PAMPHLET HOUR  featuring Laurie Bolger, Troy Cabida, Betty Doyle, Ellora Sutton Friday • 7:00 PMFrom £6.39 FRIDAY NIGHT HEADLINE EVENT  with Dzifa Benson, Anthony Joseph, Richard Scott Friday • 8:30 PMFrom £8.30 Sixth Verve Poetry Performance Lecture – Susannah Dickey: Why Not You? Saturday • 1:00 PM • From £6.39 Magma Matters: Past, Present and Future Saturday • 2:30 PM • From £6.39 'POETRY UNBOUND' SPECIAL at VERVE  with Imtiaz Dharker & Padraig O Tuama Saturday • 4:30 PM • From £6.39 SATURDAY HEADLINE EVENT  with Theresa Lola, Victoria Kennefick, Anthony Capildeo Saturday • 6:00 PM • From £8.30 BIG GAY POETRY NIGHT VERVE SPECIAL  featuring Joelle Taylor, Sanah Asan and Kandace Johnson. Saturday • 8:00 PM • From £8.30 Discovering The New Carthaginians with Nick Makoha Sunday • 1:00 PM • From £6.39 SUNDAY HEADLINE EVENT with Helen Calcutt, Pàdraig Ò Tauma, Ruth Padel & Carrie Etter Sunday • 2:30 PM From £8.30 VERVE CLOSING GALA WITH OPEN MIC with Courtney Conrad and Jamie Thrasivoulou Sunday • 4:30 PM • From £6.39

POETRY MAGMA MATTERS: Past, Present and Future Various Magma Regular and Specific Issue Editors LOCATION BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME ABOUT THE EVENT TIME Saturday - 2:30pm PRICE £8 / £6 Book Tickets Book Stream Join us for a live version of the magazine with editors and poets who have been part of the Magma journey. This LIVE version of Magma looks at recent issues, including Obsidian and Performance, and the current Grassroots issue, and explores what future issues aim to achieve through a dynamic showcase with audience interaction. A great line-up of poets will share their work and link it to Magma features. Elontra Hall and Sim Pereira-Madder will discuss performance poetry, taking their lead from the exchange in the Performance issue. Co-editor Josiane Smith will lead the discussion and take questions from the audience. The Reviews element of Magma, delivered by reviews editor Aoife Lyall, pays tribute to Gboyega Odubanjo’s Adam, his posthumous collection published by Faber. Gboyega was Magma’s co-Chair and is now its Presiding Spirit and while Magma misses a dear friend and colleague, we celebrate his legacy and urge people to support the Gboyega Odubanjo Foundation for low-income Black writers. Magma’s Inspired Feature will be performed by Amy Acre - a good friend of Magma and Judge of this year's annual competition. She will share insights into what she looks for in competition-winning poems and take questions from the audience as well as reading from her celebrated first collection, Mothersong (Boomsbury Poetry). Magma is proud to make Nafeesa Hamid our Selected Poet for the Verve Poetry Festival.

< Back Write a poem on a moment of change in your own or someone else’s life. Saturday - 3pm THE SWERVE Hippodrome Theatre, Hurst Street, Birmingham, UK The point of this is to emerge with a poem about change which also embodies change. 1. Start out in sections or fragments and see how it goes. 2. Maybe look at other sequence /fragment poems like Wallace Stevens’ ‘Thirteen ways of looking at a Blackbird’ Warsan Shire’s ‘The House’ Robert Hass’s ‘Lines on Last Spring’ or (a really important poem of his, on his relations with his alcoholic mum as a child but also on love sex and evolution) Dragonflies Mating. These unfold in numbered sections, watch how they tell a story or stories, how the perspective might shift from one section to the next, how voice or speaker, length, shape or tone of each section vary. 3. Once you have a sequence of fragments, lay around with losing some, melding them together into one, reversing them... Maybe they done want to go into one - which is fine. ABOUT THE POET Ruth Padel is a writer of unusual range. She has close personal links to Greece, India, classical music, nature, wildlife conservation and science, but is first and foremost an award-winning poet. Her books include thirteen acclaimed poetry collections, two novels, and a wide sweep of non-fiction. She lives in London, is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Literature and Zoological Society of London, and currently Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Magdalene College Cambridge. WORKSHOP £24.50 / £18.50 Saturday - 3pm Book Tickets

WORKSHOP SPEAKING THE SILENCES : language of the lacuna Scarlett Ward LOCATION BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME ABOUT THE EVENT TIME Friday - 1pm PRICE £16 / £12 Book Tickets In this workshop the unsaid takes form and silence speaks volumes. We will draw inspiration from the unspoken narratives that shape our lives, and write around the lacunas we have learned to carry. What secrets do we haul, whose voices are missing, and what effects does it have on our identities when large cavities form in our histories? ABOUT THE POET Scarlett Ward is the Staffordshire poet laureate 2024-2026. Her debut collection ‘Ache’ was released by Verve Press in 2019, and she went on to be a finalist for the women’s poets prize by the Rebecca Swift foundation. As well as performing at Derby Literature Festival and Verve Festival, her poetry can be found in Nine Arches, 21 poems and Broken Sleep anthologies.