Surrey 
Poet Laureateship

Our mission is to inspire creativity, foster connection, nurture wellbeing, and develop skills through poetry, empowering people of all ages and backgrounds to express themselves, grow, and thrive.

 

This strategy represents more than just a roadmap; it is a commitment to the transformative power of the spoken and written word. This plan lays the foundation for this future - a future where poetry is not only celebrated but essential in the cultural life of Surrey. By focusing on sustainable growth and community impact, we aim to ensure that every resident has the opportunity to find their voice.

 

Over the next four years, we will:

1. Build our reputation as the South East’s trusted poetry organisation, championing creativity, fostering community, and nurturing wellbeing.

2. Elevate our brand profile to drive fundraising, secure strong regional and national partnerships, and increase access to poetry for all communities.

3. Become a trusted delivery partner for youth engagement, education initiatives, mental health, and heritage poetry projects.

4. Bring together more people, places, and partners through our unique role as a convener, catalyst, and enabler of inclusive, creative opportunities.

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Our Strategic Priorities
To achieve our vision, we have identified five core pillars that guide our work and ensure our impact is felt across the county:

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Poetry for Creativity

Champion bold artistic expression and cultivate creative talent at every stage of life, creating pathways for voices to be discovered, developed and celebrated.

Poetry for Community

Foster meaningful connection by bringing people together across backgrounds and generations, strengthening empathy, understanding and a shared sense of belonging.

Poetry for Wellbeing

Harness the power of poetry to build confidence, resilience and emotional well-being, supporting individuals to reflect, express and thrive.

Poetry for Access & Inclusion

Remove barriers to participation so that poetry is accessible to underserved and marginalised communities.

Poetry for Education & Skills

Support literacy, communication and creative thinking skills through poetry in schools, colleges and community settings.

Download our 2026-30 strategy

While we have tried to summarise our new Surrey Poet Laureateship four-year strategy for you here on our website, we realise there is still plenty to unpack. Discover in greater depth how we will inspire creativity, foster connection, nurture wellbeing, and develop skills through poetry by reading our strategy in full.

 

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We're in this together

Partnerships have been, and continue to be, critical to the way we make change happen. Discover how you can practically partner with us so that together, we can continue to shape and inspire new verses in people’s lives.