Adoption East Midlands creative writing project invites young people to explore ‘Home’ and ‘Belonging’
Published: Monday, March 23, 2026
Adoption East Midlands is partnering with local author, comedian and spoken word artist Jay Sandhu to launch a creative writing initiative encouraging young people to explore the themes of home and belonging.
The community-driven project aims to spark meaningful conversations about the different forms that homes and families can take, while also allowing children and young adults to develop and showcase their creative talents through writing and spoken word. "At Adoption East Midlands, we are committed to helping young people feel heard, valued, and connected,” said Lisa Drummond, Service Manager, Adoption East Midlands. “This project gives young writers a safe, supportive space to explore themes that shape their lives. We’re thrilled to empower them to share their voices and celebrate their creativity."
From 13 April to 18 May 2026, Adoption East Midlands will provide free downloadable ‘Home’ and ‘Belonging’ creative writing teacher toolkits on its website. These resources are designed to support teachers in delivering classroom activities and encouraging students to produce their own creative responses to the themes.
Students and young writers aged under 25 are invited to submit their work to the Adoption East Midlands Online Belonging Issue. Entries may include poetry, short fiction, or spoken word recordings, with a maximum length of 1,000 words.
Submissions should be sent as a Word document to enquiries@adoptioneastmidlands.nottscc.gov.uk with the subject line “Home and Belonging Submission”. The submission deadline is 18 May 2026.
All contributors will be invited to attend an online launch event in June, where writers will have the opportunity to perform their work to a live audience.
As part of the project, Jay Sandhu will deliver a series of creative writing workshops for schools. During these sessions, Jay Sandhu will guide students in developing their own creative writing pieces inspired by the themes of home and belonging. Jay says, “Workshops like this are so important for nurturing the next generation of talented artists. I’m really excited to work with the students and help them express themselves through creative writing and spoken word.”
Selected submissions from the online issue will be featured in a special fiction and poetry booklet titled “The Book of Belonging”. The publication will be produced by Nott Another and officially launched at the Nottingham Poetry Festival in June, with a second launch planned at the Derby Poetry Festival later in the year.
Contributors whose work is selected for the booklet will be invited to perform their writing at the live festival events and will receive a complimentary copy of the publication.
“The Book of Belonging” will also be available for purchase online and stocked in local East Midlands bookshops. A portion of the proceeds will support the charity Breaks for Families.
For further information about the project, please contact enquiries@adoptioneastmidlands.nottscc.gov.uk.
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