The Stephen Spender Trust
LightNews LightNews
banner
stephenspender.bsky.social
The Stephen Spender Trust
@stephenspender.bsky.social
110 followers 69 following 40 posts
Charity promoting literary translation and multilingualism through annual prize for poetry translation & school workshops. #SSTPoetryPrize #CreativeTranslation
Posts Replies Media Videos
stephenspender.bsky.social
Congratulations to all winners and commendees, and thank you to everyone who entered the Stephen Spender Prize 2025!

Read the winning translations, judges’ commentaries and more: www.stephen-spender.org/stephen-spen...

#SSTPoetryPrize2025 #PortugueseSpotlight #youngpoets @georgianasseh.bsky.social
Yellow background. Cartoon hands hold up a sign which says “Stephen Spender Prize”. Image text reads “Stephen Spender Prize 2025, 1 May – 31 July”. Brightly coloured confetti on either side. Image footnote reads "We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org”. SST logo in yellow bottom left.
November 19, 2025 at 7:21 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
This Wednesday 19 November!

Join us online 6pm-7:30pm to celebrate the winners of the Stephen Spender Prize 2025 and another wonderful year of #CreativeTranslation at the Stephen Spender Trust.

Book tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stephen-sp...

#SSTPoetryPrize2025 #PortugueseSpotlight #youngpoets
Image text reads "Stephen Spender Trust 2025 Celebration Event. Wednesday 19th November 2025 6.00pm - 7.30pm (GMT). (Zoom)" Bunting diagonally across the image. 2 cartoon figures jumping into the air.
November 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Only 1 week to go! Celebrate with us!

Featuring the winners of the Stephen Spender Prize 2025 and many of the young people, teachers, translators, judges and poets involved in this year's prize and school programmes.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stephen-sp...

#SSTPoetryPrize2025 #PortugueseSpotlight
Image text reads "Stephen Spender Trust 2025 Celebration Event. Wednesday 19th November 2025 6.00pm - 7.30pm (GMT). (Zoom)" Bunting diagonally across the image. 2 cartoon figures jumping into the air.
November 12, 2025 at 2:40 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Our latest #CreativeTranslation Digest has landed!

Find all the key dates for the 2025-26 school year and info about current projects and competitions:
mailchi.mp/13888ab10a75...

#SSTPoetryPrize #edusky @translationexch.bsky.social
The Stephen Spender Trust and the Queen's College Translation Exchange present a year in Creative Translation key dates: ANTHEA Bell Prize poetry resources PUBLISHED 19 September 2025 European Day of Languages 26 September 2025 International Translation Day 30 September 2025 Anthea Bell Prize fiction resources PUBLISHED October 2025 STEPHEN SPENDER TRUST 2025 CELEBRATION EVENT STEPHEN SPENDER PRIZE 2025 WINNERS announced 19 November 2025 Anthea Bell Prize non-fiction resources PUBLISHED January 2026 Literature fires the imagination (SPRING SERIES) Creative Translation Professional Learning (PL) for teachers in Wales JAN - FEB 2026 Anthea Bell PRIZE 2026 competition phase 2 Feb - 27 March 2026 World Book Day browse our AUTHENTIC TEXTS DATABASE 7 March 2025 World Poetry Day BROWSE OUR POETRY TRANSLATION ACTIVITIES 21 March 2026 Stephen Spender Prize 2026 open for entries 1 MAY - 31 JULY 2026 Literature fires the imagination (SUMMER SERIES)
October 14, 2025 at 2:03 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Calling all International Language teachers in Wales! Be part of our exciting new project funded by the Welsh Government!

Register interest in the professional learning programme: forms.office.com/e/rP9UruPsrr

Full details: www.stephen-spender.org/literature-f...

#CreativeTranslation #edusky
Blue background. Image heading reads “Literature Fires the Imagination”. Next to it is a colourful cartoon pair of hands holding up 6 books in bright colours, with a hot air balloon and white clouds above. Image text reads “Calling IL teachers in Wales! Fire your learners’ imaginations with our new programme of Creative Translation professional learning and tools for primary and secondary IL practitioners. Register now!” Image footnote reads “We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in blue bottom left. Logo of the Welsh government bottom right “Ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Funded by Welsh Government.”
September 29, 2025 at 3:42 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Are you ready for the #EuropeanDayofLanguages on 26 Sept??

Explore our free #CreativeTranslation resources and class projects covering a range of European languages (and many more!)

www.stephen-spender.org/resources/

#edusky #edl2025 #EDLangs
Blue background. Image heading reads “Creative translation in the classroom”. 3 photos left to right: photo of training session; photo of a translator in a primary school; photo of secondary school students with translator leaning over their desk. Image footnote reads “We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in blue bottom left.
September 19, 2025 at 1:39 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Calling all International Language teachers in Wales! Be part of our exciting new project funded by the Welsh Government!

Register interest in the #CreativeTranslation professional learning programme: forms.office.com/e/rP9UruPsrr

Full details: www.stephen-spender.org/literature-f...

#edusky
Blue background. Image heading reads “Literature Fires the Imagination”. Next to it is a colourful cartoon pair of hands holding up 6 books in bright colours, with a hot air balloon and white clouds above. Image text reads “Calling IL teachers in Wales! Fire your learners’ imaginations with our new programme of Creative Translation professional learning and tools for primary and secondary IL practitioners. Register now!” Image footnote reads “We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in blue bottom left. Logo of the Welsh government bottom right “Ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Funded by Welsh Government.”
September 8, 2025 at 1:37 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Calling all International Language teachers in Wales! Be part of our exciting new project funded by the Welsh Government!

Register interest in the professional learning programme: forms.office.com/e/rP9UruPsrr

Full details: www.stephen-spender.org/literature-f...

#CurriculumForWales #edusky
Blue background. Image heading reads “Literature Fires the Imagination”. Next to it is a colourful cartoon pair of hands holding up 6 books in bright colours, with a hot air balloon and white clouds above. Image text reads “Calling IL teachers in Wales! Fire your learners’ imaginations with our new programme of Creative Translation professional learning and tools for primary and secondary IL practitioners. Register now!” Image footnote reads “We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in blue bottom left. Logo of the Welsh government bottom right “Ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Funded by Welsh Government.”
August 14, 2025 at 3:30 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Last chance to enter the Stephen Spender Prize 2025!!

Deadline THIS THURSDAY 31 July at midnight (BST)

Find your category and enter now: www.stephen-spender.org/stephen-spen...

We can’t wait to read your translations!

#SSTPoetryPrize2025 #PortugueseSpotlight
Yellow background. Cartoon hands hold up a sign which says “Stephen Spender Prize”. Image text reads “Stephen Spender Prize 2025, 1 May – 31 July”. Brightly coloured confetti on either side. Image footnote reads "We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in yellow bottom left.
July 29, 2025 at 9:06 AM
stephenspender.bsky.social
There’s still time to enter this year’s #PortugueseSpotlight!

Open to young people in the UK/Ireland for individual entry or by teachers on behalf of students.

Send us your translations and creative response by 31 July!

www.stephen-spender.org/stephen-spen...

#SSTPoetryPrize2025 #portuguese
Yellow Background. Image heading reads “Portuguese Spotlight”. Image text reads “Primary: KS1-2 (P1-7), Secondary: KS3 (S1-3), Secondary/Sixth form: KS4-5 (S4-6)”. On the right there is a circle made from flags from Portuguese-speaking countries. 3 stars in the middle and above the heading. Image footnote reads “We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in yellow bottom left
July 22, 2025 at 12:41 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Only 2 weeks left to enter the Stephen Spender Prize 2025!

Not sure how to submit your students’ entries to the Schools Laureate Prize and #PortugueseSpotlight?

Read our guide: www.stephen-spender.org/wp-content/u...

Or watch it here: youtu.be/av5Nk5VARKk?...

#SSTPoetryPrize2025 #edusky
Yellow background. Brightly coloured cartoon of stacked books, brightly coloured cartoon people sitting on the books reading, white clouds above, yellow hot air balloon on the left. Image heading reads “Categories 2025”. Image text lists the categories: “Schools Laureate Prize; Individual Youth Entry for under 18s; Portuguese Spotlight; Teacher Laureate Prize.” Image footnote reads “We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in yellow bottom left
July 17, 2025 at 9:12 AM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Calling all International Language teachers in Wales! Be part of our exciting new project funded by the Welsh Government!

Register interest in the professional learning programme: forms.office.com/e/rP9UruPsrr

Full details: www.stephen-spender.org/literature-f...

#CurriculumForWales #edusky
Blue background. Image heading reads “Literature Fires the Imagination”. Next to it is a colourful cartoon pair of hands holding up 6 books in bright colours, with a hot air balloon and white clouds above. Image text reads “Calling IL teachers in Wales! Fire your learners’ imaginations with our new programme of Creative Translation professional learning and tools for primary and secondary IL practitioners. Register now!” Image footnote reads “We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in blue bottom left. Logo of the Welsh government bottom right “Ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Funded by Welsh Government.”
July 15, 2025 at 1:44 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Only 3 weeks left to enter the Stephen Spender Prize 2025!

Translate into English any poem from any language, or a Portuguese poem from our Spotlight booklet, for your chance to join the SSP hall of eternal fame!

www.stephen-spender.org/stephen-spen...

#SSTPoetryPrize2025 #PortugueseSpotlight
Yellow background. Cartoon hands hold up a sign which says “Stephen Spender Prize”. Image text reads “Stephen Spender Prize 2025, 1 May – 31 July”. Brightly coloured confetti on either side. Image footnote reads "We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in yellow bottom left.
July 10, 2025 at 9:06 AM
stephenspender.bsky.social
4 weeks left to enter the Stephen Spender Prize!

Ready to write your commentary? Here are our top tips: www.stephen-spender.org/guide-to-the...

Entering the Schools Laureate Prize or #PortugueseSpotlight? Check out our guide for the creative response: www.stephen-spender.org/guide-to-the...
Yellow background. Brightly coloured cartoon of stacked books, brightly coloured cartoon people sitting on the books reading, white clouds above, yellow hot air balloon on the left. Image heading reads “Categories 2025”. Image text lists the categories: “Schools Laureate Prize; Individual Youth Entry for under 18s; Portuguese Spotlight; Teacher Laureate Prize.” Image footnote reads “We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in yellow bottom left. #SSTPoetryPrize2025
July 4, 2025 at 11:12 AM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Calling all International Language teachers in Wales! Be part of our exciting new project funded by the Welsh Government!

Register interest in the professional learning programme: forms.office.com/e/rP9UruPsrr

Full details: www.stephen-spender.org/literature-f...
#CurriculumForWales #edusky
Blue background. Image heading reads “Literature Fires the Imagination”. Next to it is a colourful cartoon pair of hands holding up 6 books in bright colours, with a hot air balloon and white clouds above. Image text reads “Calling IL teachers in Wales! Fire your learners’ imaginations with our new programme of Creative Translation professional learning and tools for primary and secondary IL practitioners. Register now!” Image footnote reads “We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in blue bottom left. Logo of the Welsh government bottom right “Ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Funded by Welsh Government.”
July 1, 2025 at 3:22 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Celebrate #HHCL with the Stephen Spender Prize!

Our bank of poems covers 50+ languages: www.stephen-spender.org/suggested-po...

Our Poems From Home project encourages young people to translate a poem from their family’s country of origin: www.stephen-spender.org/poems-from-h...
#SSTPoetryPrize2025
Yellow background. White bubble speech marks top left. Image text reads "It's great there are so many Indian languages available. So many of our students' HHCL aren't represented (yet) by the exam boards, so it is really encouraging to be able to share something which celebrates their languages as part of a national event." - Secondary school teacher Stephen Spender Trust logo bottom left.
June 25, 2025 at 2:24 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Don’t forget about this year’s #PortugueseSpotlight, a wonderful opportunity to explore the language and poetry of the Lusophone world!

Download the newly extended booklet with poems from Portugal, Brazil, Goa, Angola and Mozambique: www.stephen-spender.org/wp-content/u...

#SSTPoetryPrize2025
Yellow Background. Image heading reads “Portuguese Spotlight”. Image text reads “Primary: KS1-2 (P1-7), Secondary: KS3 (S1-3), Secondary/Sixth form: KS4-5 (S4-6)”. On the right there is a circle made from flags from Portuguese-speaking countries. 3 stars in the middle and above the heading. Image footnote reads “We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in yellow bottom left.
June 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Calling all International Language teachers in Wales! Be part of our exciting new project funded by @welshgovernment.bsky.social!

Register interest in the PL programme: forms.office.com/e/rP9UruPsrr

Full details: www.stephen-spender.org/literature-f...

#CreativeTranslation #CurriculumForWales
Blue background. Image heading reads “Literature Fires the Imagination”. Next to it is a colourful cartoon pair of hands holding up 6 books in bright colours, with a hot air balloon and white clouds above. Image text reads “Calling IL teachers in Wales! Fire your learners’ imaginations with our new programme of Creative Translation professional learning and tools for primary and secondary IL practitioners. Register now!” Image footnote reads “We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in blue bottom left. Logo of the Welsh government bottom right “Ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Funded by Welsh Government.”
June 17, 2025 at 2:25 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
How do you translate a poem?
Find everything you need in our NEW collection of poetry translation resources!
Including worksheets for #teachers and top tips from former winner Gabi Reigh:
www.stephen-spender.org/stephen-spen...

Submit your entry by 31 July!

#SSTPoetryPrize2025 #PortugueseSpotlight
Yellow background. Brightly coloured cartoon of stacked books, brightly coloured cartoon people sitting on the books reading, white clouds above, yellow hot air balloon on the left. Image heading reads “Categories 2025”. Image text lists the categories: “Schools Laureate Prize; Individual Youth Entry for under 18s; Portuguese Spotlight; Teacher Laureate Prize.” Image footnote reads “We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in yellow bottom left
June 12, 2025 at 2:30 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Calling all International Language teachers in Wales! Be part of our exciting new project funded by the Welsh Government!

Register interest in the PL programme: forms.office.com/e/rP9UruPsrr

Full details: www.stephen-spender.org/literature-f...

#CreativeTranslation #CurriculumForWales #edusky
Blue background. Image heading reads “Literature Fires the Imagination”. Next to it is a colourful cartoon pair of hands holding up 6 books in bright colours, with a hot air balloon and white clouds above. Image text reads “Calling IL teachers in Wales! Fire your learners’ imaginations with our new programme of Creative Translation professional learning and tools for primary and secondary IL practitioners. Register now!” Image footnote reads “We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in blue bottom left. Logo of the Welsh government bottom right “Ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Funded by Welsh Government.”
June 4, 2025 at 1:10 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Not sure what to translate for #SSTPoetryPrize2025? Don’t forget our new collection of resources and top tips on how to choose a poem: www.stephen-spender.org/stephen-spen...

Enter by 31 July for your chance to join the Stephen Spender Prize hall of fame!

#SSTPoetryPrize #PortugueseSpotlight
Yellow background. Image text reads “Resources for choosing a poem”. A brightly coloured cartoon on the right: person holds a magnifying glass in front of a screen as big as they are, colourful leaves burst from behind it, a small pile of books are on the right of it. Clouds and stars are above it and above the text. Image footnote reads "We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ” SST logo in yellow bottom left.
May 29, 2025 at 12:21 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Calling all #youngpoets! The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award from @poetrysociety.bsky.social is open for entries!

Free to submit. Poems must be 40 lines or shorter and there is no theme. Enter by 31 July!

Find out more at foyleyoungpoets.org/
#foyleyoungpoets #poetrylovers #poetrycompetition
Dark blue background. Image text reads "Foyle Young Poets of the Year" in wavy font as if on the surface of water. 4 cartoon paper boats float around the text.
May 27, 2025 at 4:04 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Need inspiration for the Stephen Spender Prize? Explore our multilingual bank of suggested poems in over 50 languages! Use the filters to search by language and/or year group to find the perfect poem for you and your students to translate.
www.stephen-spender.org/suggested-po...
#SSTPoetryPrize2025
Yellow background. Image text reads “Multilingual Bank of Suggested Poems”. White cartoon clouds above. Colourful cartoon of an oversized screen in blue. It displays examples of the languages available including German, Dutch, Gujarati, Malayalam, French, Bengali. A cartoon woman holding a star is jumping up in front of the screen. Image footnote reads “We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ”. SST logo in yellow bottom left.
May 23, 2025 at 12:27 PM
stephenspender.bsky.social
Join Oxford Brookes Poetry Centre on 27 May for a poetry & translation event featuring David Constantine, Chris Beckett, and Fahad Al-Amoudi.
Book free tickets at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/and-graven...
Green background. Image heading reads "And Graven with Diamondes: poet-translators from Wyatt to Constantine." Image text reads "Niall Munro, Director of Oxford Brookes Poetry Centre, introduces a lively evening of poetry and discussion with David Constantine, Chris Beckett, Fahad Al-Amoudi reading from their own collections and talking about the importance of translation and poetry from other traditions in their working practice. Tuesday 27 May, 2025, 6.30 – 8.30 pm, Oxford Quaker Meeting House, 43 St Giles', Oxford, OX1 3LW. Free Entry & Refreshments. Book on Eventbrite! Or scan QR code." Photos of the 3 poets on the left.
May 21, 2025 at 11:31 AM
stephenspender.bsky.social
The first step of every Stephen Spender Prize entry is choosing a poem to translate…

NEW resources include top tips, a collection of poetry booklets, and a multilingual bank of suggested poems!

www.stephen-spender.org/stephen-spen...
#SSTPoetryPrize2025 #PortugueseSpotlight
Yellow background. Image text reads “Resources for choosing a poem”. A brightly coloured cartoon on the right: person holds a magnifying glass in front of a screen as big as they are, colourful leaves burst from behind it, a small pile of books are on the right of it. Clouds and stars are above it and above the text. Image footnote reads "We harness the power of language and translation to celebrate heritage, unlock creative and educational potential, and inspire communities. www.stephen-spender.org ” SST logo in yellow bottom left.
May 15, 2025 at 2:22 PM