The Leicester Poetry Committee is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Shay as the city’s first Poet Laureate. Mr. Shay is a Leicester-based poet, musician, beatboxer, rapper and loop pedal artist, widely recognised for his dedication to youth engagement and community creativity. Mr. Shay said of the title:The title ‘Poet Laureate’ was not one I had encountered or aspired to while growing up in Belgrave. Through community poetry projects in Belgrave, St Matthews and Highfields, Mr. Shay has prioritised co-creation and family participation, ensuring that poetry remains accessible and relevant to Leicester’s communities. “From the beginning of my career, I have championed Leicester’s multicultural identity, its heritage and its complexities,” Mr. Shay added.