Writers' Awards 2025 revealed in celebration

An awards ceremony in Newcastle has celebrated the North of England's wealth of creative writing talent.

- HELEN DALBY

New Writing North hosted its annual Northern Writers' Awards at Northumbria University, announcing 25 winners and showcasing their work.

The awards is the largest and longest running writer development programme of its kind in England, and this year more than 3,000 entries were received.

The aim of the scheme, which is in its 26th year, is to discover some of the best unpublished writing in the North of England and support new authors with works in progress.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness opened Tuesday's ceremony with an energetic speech about the value and importance of culture and creative industries in the region, speaking passionately about her own experience of getting involved in music-making when growing up in Newcastle and reiterating her commitment to ensuring all young people have creative opportunities today, recognising that talent is classless but opportunity is not.

Princess Arinola Adegbite won the Northern Debut Award for Poetry. She said: “I am very grateful and honoured to win this award.