Maggie Sawkins

Maggie Sawkins is a published poet and founder of Tongues&Grooves Poetry and Music Club. She facilitates creative writing projects in the community and has worked with people from all walks of life including the refugee and asylum seeker community in Portsmouth and those detained in prison. Her live literature production 'Zones of Avoidance' won the prestigious Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry in 2013. In 2022 Maggie hosted an episode of the BBC Radio 4 programme Tongue and Talk: The Dialect Poets which introduced the Pompey lingo to a nationwide audience. Her latest live literature production, 'Flyweight', exploring the relationship between writing and boxing, was recently performed at the Ventnor Arts Club. Maggie has a background in teaching and mentoring, and most recently worked with Boojum & Snark founder Tracy Mikich, on the development of her memoir writing. Some feedback from Tracy: 'Thank you Maggie. You were an extraordinary mentor -- I really can't thank you enough for helping me. Honestly you are one of a kind.'