Inspiring Voices
A fabulous poetry programme to explore England's heritage
Inspiring Voices is a poetry programme that will bring people and communities together to explore England’s heritage. We will create new platforms to connect people through poetry on and off the page, amplifying voices from across the country to build a powerful sense of community and belonging.
Inspiring Voices builds on the successes of Untold Stories – a programme that explored the hidden histories and contemporary resonances of English Heritage sites through poetry.
This autumn, young people are invited to bring history to life through poetry. Launching 3 November 2025 at 10AM, the Inspiring Voices Poetry Festival is an online celebration of creativity, run by English Heritage in partnership with TORCH (The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities).
The festival encourages young people to create poetry in any form - written, spoken, filmed, or visual—drawing inspiration from England’s historic places.
Submissions will remain open until 26 February 2026.
The Inspiring Voices Poetry Festival is more than a competition - it’s an invitation to create, connect, and see history through new eyes.
