Got some old magazines or packaging you’d like to make a poem from? Then send us a photo of your finished work as part of our Rubbish Words event!

Rubbish Words is a collaborative poetry pop-up taking place at Leeds Corn Exchange from 18-20 October, with everyone able to drop-in and create poems using found words taken from everyday items such as posters and magazines.

The inspiring event is being led by poet Sarah Dawson.

So, if you can’t make it to Leeds, we’d still love to see your poems – upload pictures of them to us here or tag us on Twitter/X @NatPoetryCentre or Instagram @nationalpoetrycentre.

The poems will be made into an artwork at the end of Rubbish Words by Leeds-based artist George Storm Fletcher.

Rubbish Words is part of Poetry School’s ‘Summit Festival’, a landmark eco-poetry, nature and climate literature festival, which takes place on 19 October at Yorkshire Sculpture Park and 20 October at the University of Leeds Poetry Centre. The festival, which encompasses two days of readings, workshops, surgeries, and performances, includes the prestigious Laurel Prize ceremony.

The National Poetry Centre will be based in Leeds and bring people together from every community in every corner of the UK.

Rubbish Words is made possible thanks to funding from Leeds City Council’s Cultural Investment Programme Grow: Project strand and the University of Leeds.