Elspeth Snelling Named East Yorkshire's First Young Poet

East Yorkshire has appointed its inaugural young poet laureate, Elspeth Snelling, a 26-year-old poet from Beverley. This significant role will provide Snelling with six months of dedicated mentorship, along with opportunities to conduct workshops and speak at events hosted by East Riding Libraries. Snelling shared her immense honor and excitement about sharing her passion for poetry across the East Riding, aspiring to broaden people's understanding and appreciation of the art form. Councillor Nick Coultish of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council highlighted the importance of nurturing creative talent and providing young people with a platform to develop their voices. Snelling's "passion and originality" were noted as standout qualities during the selection process. She is set to collaborate with the current East Yorkshire poet laureate, Cassandra Parkin, for three months, followed by a similar period with the incoming 2026 laureate, ensuring a robust transition and knowledge exchange. The council confirmed that the selection process was highly competitive, underscoring the caliber of candidates.