The MadPo3t Kicks Off Poetry Workshops at WLC

West London College has launched an inspiring series of poetry workshops for Foundation Learning students, led by Alex Murdock, also known as The MadPo3t. The workshops mark the start of an exciting programme designed to nurture creativity, confidence, and self-expression through spoken word and poetry.

The first workshop took place yesterday at Ealing Green College, where more than 50 students attended and took part in activities that brought energy and imagination to the room. Today the series continued at Hammersmith & Fulham College, with over 60 participants joining in.

The workshops are supported by the GCSE English team and help mark National Poetry Day on 2 October, as well as forming part of the college’s celebrations for Black History Month, which has a theme of ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’ for 2025. They give Foundation Learning students the chance to explore creative writing and spoken word while also developing key skills such as self-esteem, confidence, and public speaking.

In addition to the workshops, students have been invited to submit their own poetry to the Student With Voices Poetry Challenge. The top 25 poems will be published in Student With Voices: Volume 1, a collection sponsored by Hammersmith Youth Voice.

The programme will culminate on 21 October with the Student With Voices Celebration Open Mic, hosted in the River Room at Riverside Studios. This exciting event will see students step up to the microphone to showcase their spoken-word talents, giving them a platform to share their voices in a supportive and creative space.