Support Poets, Fund a Prize: Join a Poetry Workshop That Gives Back

At The Broken Spine, we believe poetry should be valued—not just with praise, but with real financial support. That’s why we’re launching The Broken Spine Poetry Award, a competition designed to reward poets with meaningful cash prizes.

But we need your help to make it happen.

To raise £5000 for the prize fund, we’re rerunning three of our most acclaimed poetry workshops—and 100% of the proceeds will go directly to funding this award.

Why This Matters

✔️ Poets should be paid for their work
✔️ Every penny raised funds this award—nothing goes to us
✔️ Attending a workshop means investing in your craft and the poetry community

Once we reach our goal, The Broken Spine Poetry Award will be a fair, rigorous competition that rewards poets in a way that truly reflects their talent.

This is your chance to develop your writing while contributing to something bigger.

Three Poetry Workshops That Fund The Broken Spine Poetry Award

These workshops aren’t just about technique—they’re about pushing creative boundaries, writing fearlessly, and developing a voice that matters. Each session offers a unique opportunity to sharpen your craft while directly supporting the poetry community.

🔥 Unleash your boldest, most honest poetry.

This workshop is for writers who want to break through self-doubt, explore unfiltered emotion, and write poetry that refuses to hold back. You’ll learn how to craft raw, fearless poems that resonate with truth and impact.

💬 “Strong emotions surfaced that I didn’t expect, which is a sign of good design and facilitation.” – Sue
💬 “Exploring topics and experiences usually kept hidden. A truly valuable session.” – Philippa
💬 “The ‘permission’ to write fearlessly about things I’d never written about.” – Paul

🌙 Explore the beauty, mystery, and tension of night-time poetry.

Night changes the way we see the world—and the way we write. This workshop dives into the shadows, helping poets craft atmospheric, evocative poems that capture the energy of the night. Whether it’s neon-lit streets, the hush of a moonlit sky, or untold midnight confessions, you’ll discover how to bring darkness to life in your writing.

💬 “The exercises pushed me out of my comfort zone… I explored aspects of night I never would have thought of.” – Philippa
💬 “The first poem process of using different nouns to create a night-time setting was excellent.” – Sean
💬 “A great workshop with engaging activities… Looking forward to future events.” – Paul

🏠 Find poetry in the everyday and make ordinary moments extraordinary.

Life happens in the small moments—the spaces we live in, the routines we follow, the relationships we build. This workshop teaches poets how to turn domestic life into compelling poetry, using vivid imagery and precise language to elevate the everyday.

💬 “The discussions and detailed prompts were fantastic… less rushed than other workshops.” – Gillian
💬 “I liked the mix of writing time and discussion—it really helped me refine my approach.” – Donna
💬 “The three full hours allowed us to really delve into poetry before writing… I loved the balance.” – Philippa

How to Support The Broken Spine Poetry Award

📢 100% of the funds raised from these workshops go directly into the prize fund.

By attending a workshop, you’re not just improving your craft—you’re actively helping us establish a major poetry award that values and rewards poets in a way they deserve.

At The Broken Spine, we’re committed to building a fair, rigorous poetry competition—one that provides meaningful financial support to talented poets.

Be Part of Something Bigger

Sign up for a workshop. Help fund a prize that matters. Let’s make this happen—together.

📅 Workshop dates coming soon—stay tuned!