The New Cockney Poets – from Bow to Billericay 2026
In a nutshell:
Building on the recent successes of the Togetherness Poetry Challenges, this year with a fresh and exciting new partnership we are compiling an anthology of poems under the combined two themes:
– Modern Cockney identities & Cockney Diaspora;
– Unity & Comradeship of East End Communities – in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street
This continues the work of flagship initiative, 32 Steps to Togetherness, which aims to bring people together and foster community.
From April to September 2026, we are making a call for poetry submissions on the two themes. It is open to everyone aged over 18 years old and with a 40 line limit.
New Cockney Poets is a partnership, between Civil Society Together, Hidden Literature, Modern Cockney Festival and UNITED East End – and we will host an in-person Poetry Slam event in early October 2026 as part of the Together on Cable Street 90th anniversary community celebrations – hopefully to launch an anthology.
Photo gallery (below): Cable Street located in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. St. George-in-the-East Church. The Cable Street mural on the side of St. George’s Town Hall painted by Dave Binnington, Paul Butler, Ray Walker and Desmond Rochfort between 1979 and 1983.
Theme 1: What do we mean by “Modern Cockney Identities and the Cockney Diaspora” ?
Modern social identities are complex, multilayered and fluid. People have many badges, not just one identity. We need to find ways of engaging at many different levels and dimensions to begin respectful conversations around identity to build cohesion and togetherness.
We don’t need an exercise in nostalgia celebrating a mythical past, nor do we need a ‘Royal Institute of Cockney’. Rather, by providing emergent spaces bringing people together – on or offline – enabling anyone to explore, discover, and celebrate their shared sense of who they are, while respecting the rights of others to be the person they ought to be – the world is a better place through celebrating the Modern Cockney – aka the ‘non-posh Londoner’.
Celebrating Cockney identity in a context where its story is told by others, or more likely mistold, negatively stereotyped, ignored, even airbrushed out of history.
In the last 100 years or so, and especially in the post-war period, we have seen the migration of cockney speakers to places outside of London – often into Essex (or Kent) and many of the new towns of Harlow and Basildon, up to Clacton and further into East Anglia – places like Thetford and Haverhill. The more extensive Cockney diaspora spreads, of course, much further afield.
We are also mindful of the so-called ‘Cockney School of Poets’ from the early 19th century, and a dismissive term first used in 1817 by snobbish poetry reviewers, and became part of the insulting of London-based Romantic poets, such as John Keats or Leigh Hunt – and even Percy Bysshe Shelley – whereby the establishment sought to mock these poets for their perceived lack of pedigree and sophistication, referring to their ‘low born’ status and accents, and most tellingly their radical Cockney political views.
Theme 2: What do we mean by “UNITY & COMRADESHIP IN LONDON’S EAST END – 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street” ?
United East End (UEE) was founded in 2010 as a non-party political, social solidarity alliance, comprising community and faith organisations, trade unions and other civil society groups. The specific aim of UEE was to prevent far-right and overtly racist organisations such as the EDL, and more recently, UKIP, from marching through Tower Hamlets. As such, UEE sees itself as working in the best tradition of the Battle of Cable Street, when the local community united to prevent Oswald Mosley’s fascist Blackshirts marching through the East End in 1936. UEE is now working with others to develop a programme of cultural events to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street and highlight its relevance for today.
Poetry is a powerful tool for bringing people and communities from different backgrounds together. It breaks boundaries, allowing us to express truths that don’t fit into rigid frameworks. It invites us to reclaim our voices, challenge stereotypes, and celebrate diversity, fostering deep connections in the process. By writing and sharing poetry, we can dismantle old ways of thinking, honour all our histories and heritage, and imagine a future where every voice matters.
Social cohesion is vital in holding communities together. The anthology’s themes celebrate the unique cultural heritage of London’s East End and bring it into a modern-day diverse and inclusive context. In sum, it will make up our shared world while exploring poetry’s role in fostering mutual respect, understanding, and a sense of community coming together: Unity & Comradeship.
We believe poetry is a transformative tool in the creative process of “decolonising minds” and generating fresh, shared identities which are respectful and tolerant of difference and nuance. You can visit Civil Society Together’s Poetry Challenge website to see what has been done previously: https://www.togethernesspoetrychallenge.org
Anthology
So we’re all encouraging everyone – aged over 18 years old – to write and share poetry on the two themes.
Our aim is to produce a digital – and if possible – printed anthology comprising an estimated 50 poems which will be selected by the partners editorial team as set out below, co-ordinated by Mark Ereira-Guyer (from Civil Society Together). The Mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman will be requested to write a preface; and Michael Rosen an introduction.
Further sponsorship is being sought for printing and other associated costs, however seed-corn funding is being provided by Civil Society Together and the National Lottery’s Awards for All grant.
Photograph (above): Andy Green and Saif Osmani at a Pie and Mash shop in Hoxton.
Timeline
Submissions are now being sought until Sunday 4th October 2026 (90 years to the day when Battle of Cable Street happened)
Please send your poems to: [email protected]
The submission guidelines are similar to those of previous Poetry Challenges: https://www.togethernesspoetrychallenge.org/submission-guidelines
Celebratory Event: Date TBC – as part of 90th anniversary celebrations at St George-in-the-east Church, Cable street, Shadwell, east London
Prizes and Editorial Team
A prize of a Monkey for a poem judged as one that brings either of the themes most alive; Two Tons as commendation prizes.
Team will comprise:
– Ovyuki from Hidden Literature
– Mark Ereira-Guyer, Civil Society Together CIC
– Saif Osmani, Bengali East End Heritage Society
– Arthur Smith, Modern Cockney Festival
– Abdullah Faliq, United East End
– Michael Rosen (TBC)
– Aminah Rahman, Poet
– Elizabeth Cook, Poet (TBC)
Photo gallery (above): Poets Aminah Rahman, Ovyuki & Mark Ereira at a poetry workshop organised by Civil Society Together held on Brick Lane. Launch of Steps to Togetherness. Wall in Hoxton.