Championing Fresh Voices in Creative Writing
City Lit is proud to reveal the three talented recipients of the 2025-26 Malorie Blackman Unheard Voices Scholarships, an initiative designed to celebrate and support aspiring writers from underrepresented backgrounds.
A huge congratulations to Savannah, Chelsea and Ayanna whose powerful storytelling has earned them a place in this prestigious City Lit creative writing programme.
Each piece showcases the power of literature in reflecting personal and societal experiences, reinforcing the importance of elevating fresh perspectives in the writing world.
The winning works
This year’s winning excerpts demonstrate the diversity and richness of unheard voices:
Savannah Prince
Chelsea Bondzanga
Ayanna van der Maten
Each piece showcases the power of literature in reflecting personal and societal experiences, reinforcing the importance of elevating fresh perspectives in the writing world.
A scholarship with impact
Once again, the Malorie Blackman Unheard Voices Scholarships open doors for a new generation of storytellers, offering three annual awards of up to £1000 each to help recipients develop their craft at City Lit’s renowned Creative Writing department. The initiative, founded with the idea of empowering emerging writers, has become a stepping stone for those looking to share their voices in the literary world.
City Lit Fellow and Patron of the School of Culture and Communication, Malorie Blackman OBE, once again took on the challenging task of selecting this year's winners.
Malorie Blackman on this year's selection
"Reading the submissions for the City Lit Scholarship scheme is one the highlights of my year. I very much enjoy reading the shortlisted entries, but it seems that every year the task of selecting only a limited number of scholarship recipients proves more and more difficult. Each submission was a joy to read - some proved challenging, some were laugh out loud humorous, some were poignant, some thought-provoking, but all of the them were excellent, engaging and made me want to read on. To all the shortlisted authors, I would like to thank you for submitting your writing extracts and I sincerely hope that none of you gives up on your writing. I wish you all every success."
A legacy of storytelling
City Lit’s Creative Writing courses have long been a place for ambitious writers, with alumni spanning bestselling authors, poets, and screenwriters. City Lit Principal Mark Malcomson CBE spoke about the impact of the scholarship and the continued legacy of creative writing at City Lit:
"We are thrilled to welcome this new cohort of scholarship winners. Malorie’s dedication to championing unheard voices is truly inspiring, and this programme embodies the values of creativity, inclusivity, and storytelling that City Lit holds dear. We are excited to see where their journeys take them."
City Lit Fellow Malorie Blackman
Malorie Blackman’s long-standing connection with City Lit is one of inspiration and mentorship. As a former student, she understands first-hand the role that education plays in shaping a writer’s career. With over fifty published works and a celebrated career spanning novels, television, and children’s literature, Malorie remains a beacon of creativity and advocacy for diverse voices in writing.
Looking ahead
The Malorie Blackman Unheard Voices Scholarships serve as more than just financial support - they offer encouragement, visibility, and a platform for talented writers to flourish.
Study creative writing at City Lit
Whether you're just beginning your writing journey or preparing to publish your first book, our creative writing courses offer expert guidance from a published author and personalised feedback to help you grow. Find the course for you by clicking the button below.
