Today's Read Team 
Winners of the 2025 Disabled Poets Prize Revealed
The second iteration of the Disabled Poets Prize celebrated its winners during the Deptford Literature Festival on March 29, 2025. Established in 2023 by the Jerwood Poetry Fellow Jamie Hale, this prize aims to elevate the voices of UK-based d/Deaf and disabled poets while showcasing their creative contributions.
Acknowledging Talent in Poetry
Judged by Jamie Hale, alongside esteemed poets Khairani Barokka and Polly Atkin, the competition culminated in the announcement of two primary winners:
- Best Single Poem: Oli Isaac for to whom / it may / concern
- Best Unpublished Pamphlet: Rue Collinge for How to Train Your Dragon
Both recipients were awarded £500, as well as career development opportunities through the competition’s partners. This support is also available to all those who made the shortlist.
Publishing Opportunities
As the winner of the Best Unpublished Pamphlet category, Rue Collinge will have the chance to publish her work with Verve Poetry Press.
Reflecting on her achievement, Isaac remarked, “This prize is a source of immense pride and gratitude… I am endlessly grateful for opportunities like this that allow me to cross that gap and connect to others with my words.”
Voices of Resilience
Collinge voiced her appreciation, stating, “My professional life is about giving other people a voice, even as I’ve lost my own… It is deeply affirming to be selected as one of the winners this year.”
Additional Recognitions
In the Best Single Poem category, second and third places were awarded to:
- Imogen McHugh for After Her Recruitment
- Olivia Tuck for According to the Many Who Loved Her
The highly commended entries included works from:
- Khushi Bajaj – My School Has 4.4 Stars on Google Maps
- Alex Mepham – The Blue Hour
- Husna Memon – My Father Has Three Tongues
- Erinma Ochu – How to Read the Atmosphere
Best Unpublished Pamphlet Category
In this category, the second and third places were awarded to:
- Benjamin Larner for Freakshow (2nd Place)
- Jessica Boatwright for Burst (3rd Place)
Highly commended entrants included:
- Hazel McMichael – Forgetting
- Sarah O’Connor – A Cloudburst of Women
- Erika Phoenix – Welcome to Post Carolina
Second place winners received £250, while third place winners received £100. Furthermore, several highly commended works were honored with £50 each.
Insights from the Judges
Jamie Hale expressed the profound experience of reviewing the submissions: “The work we read as judges was compelling, diverse in form, tone and topic… the difficulty in decision-making reflects the incredible expanse of the poetry being created by disabled people at the moment.”