A British-Somali poet born and raised in Sheffield. Winner of the 2018 New Poets Prize, Warda is dedicated to her craft and encouraging young people to reap the benefits of writing.

A collective of new poets from around the world – DRC, Ethiopia, Guyana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Pakistan, Sudan, UK – who have now made Sheffield their homes. Making connections to one another and to the city, through poetry.

Writer Akeem Balogun talks to Annalisa Toccara ahead of his appearance at Off the Shelf Festival. Here they discuss The Storm, his new short story collection about human survival, and why he co-founded the independent publishing company Okapi Books.

Sheffield's first poet laureate. A radical performer with a clear vision of poetry and rap as a means of communicating emotion.

The writer – and DJ, journalist and mentor – talks to Annalisa Toccara about being inspired by ordinariness, making space for change, and curating the Black Women Write Now strand at Off the Shelf Festival 2020.

A lyricist reflecting on authenticity, masculinity, existential angst and the power of creativity, especially as expressed through rap.

A slam poetry champion, medic and comedy connoisseur – observing different social phenomena, expressing them in writing, bringing them to life on stage or in front of the camera, and inviting reflection.

An indie publishing house, boldly trying to transform the world of books.

A firm fixture on Sheffield's poetry scene, weaving the ills of society and its oppression within each word and unravelling the personal-political.

A poet with one foot in Sheffield and another in Derbyshire, who finds inspiration at the top of hills, in ghost stories, pubs, friendship, the aftertaste of whisky, the miners' strike, and in lost love.

A South Yorks poet, whose candid, vulnerable and vigilant work will leave you open-mouthed.

Show Sheffield's creative community some extra love after a rough year, and shop for presents the independent way this festive season with gift tips from OFP contributors.