Congratulations to the Medway Youth Laureate winners 2025

We are delighted to announce the results of the Medway Youth Laureate competition in partnership with Medway Libraries.

Image shows someone writing on a notepad.

From a strong selection of entries, Medway River Lit joint patron Theresa Lola selected our winners.

The results are as follows. We'll be posting more information about the winners and their poems soon.

12-13 age category:

1st:

Taylor Bailey 'Smiling Deep Blue'

2nd:

Jeremiah Momodebe 'Four Voices'

3rd:

Emily Rose Steiner 'The Earth's Attack'

14-15 age category:

1st:

Irene Obadare 'The pleas of the speechless'

2nd:

Olivia Langley 'they don't get along'

3rd:

Kniyhaaqwan McClarren 'destruction of nature'

16-17 age category:

1st

Julija Kuka 'The Tarnished Flame'

2nd:

Hannah Adefila 'The Air between Us'

Judges' special commendation:

Sara Popescu 'The Ashes Of Who I Used To Be'

Well done to all our winners, who will receive a goody bag containing a book token, books and some other goodies. You'll be able to hear from some of the winners at the Launch of Medway River Lit on Saturday 1 November. Their poems will also be displayed in Chatham Library, and the winners of this year's Medway Youth Laureate competition will have various opportunities for mentorship and workshops throughout the year.