Sessions will be run by 
Bella Cox (www.bellacox.com)
Bio:
Bella Cox is a poet, writer, performer and workshop facilitator who has taught and performed in Kenya, South Africa, Malta, and around the UK. She is a three-time Barbican Young Poets alumna and a twice-nominated Young People’s Laureate for London. She was a co-founding member of two regularly sold out open mic nights, and was the Poet in Residence for Westminster Abbey throughout 2023.
In her work as a facilitator, Bella strives to create safe to ‘fail’ spaces that prioritise inclusivity and empower people to creatively express themselves through poetry. In her six years of experience delivering both in person and online workshops to young people ages 5 to 25 she has worked with various institutions including Eastside Education, Goldsmiths University, Get Further Education, and London Metropolitan University among others.
She has written for and performed at events such as TEDx Pretoria, Sköll World Forum, Bi Pride UK, the Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival, and Amazon’s inaugural Pride through Poetry event, among others. Commissioning institutions include the Barbican Centre, HSBC UK, Time Out London and Westminster Abbey among others.
Her proudly queer and feminist work that navigates her own identity seeks to empower young people to embrace their sensitivities and unique perspectives as tools for self-liberation. Her debut poetry collection; Sikiliza was released with Flipped Eye in 2023.
“Bella’s ability to capture, then hold, the attention of large classes, whilst encouraging freedom in their writing, shows an innate capacity for connecting with diverse audiences.” Christian Foley