Aliyah Begum - young poet laureate 2018 to 2020

Aliyah Begum is a poet and performer who has been published in several anthologies and is a commended Foyles Young Poet. She was Birmingham's Young Poet Laureate between 2018-2020.

"When applying for the role of Birmingham Young Poet Laureate, I knew that I wanted to showcase poetry's accessibility as an art form to be enjoyed by anyone with a pen and something to say. In the past two years, I have had the opportunity to do this by working with people of all ages in schools and libraries across the city. I have also had the opportunity to work with organisations such as the RSC in Stratford, Young Poets Network, and the BBC. I was asked to perform on BBC West Midlands radio, and I was invited to the final banquet of the Great British Menu, broadcast on BBC Two in celebration of Children's Literature. I was also lucky enough to open for Simon Armitage at the Town Hall with Richard O'Brien, the adult laureate, during the Birmingham Literature Festival, which was a surreal experience. I am very grateful for my time as Young Poet Laureate; I have been able to get involved with the poetry of my local community, while also getting the chance to share and experiment with my own writing at the same time."