We will be welcoming Nicola to our January ’26 meeting. Nicola grew up in Devon, France and West Sussex. She studied English Literature at University and taught in secondary schools for 23 years, 15 of which were at an inner-city comprehensive. She has a passion for poetry and was runner up in the Poetry Book Society poetry competition, judged by Carol Ann Duffy.
She will be speaking about her latest book “On the Edge” which has been nominated for the ’26 Carnegie Medal for Writing award and about finding a new publisher.
Her 2025 book increases our understanding of the challenges faced by young people in rural areas, including poverty, insecure housing and drug misuse, and promotes discussion about protest, extremism, class and social inequalities.
