Year 9 find their voice with the National Literacy Trust’s Power of Voice Programme
Posted 10th July 2026
This year, a Year 9 class at Dixons Fazakerley Academy took part in the National Literacy Trust’s Power of Voice programme, a social action project delivered as part of the National Year of Reading in partnership with Audible and Shelby Studios.
Over three inspiring workshop sessions, students worked with acclaimed Liverpool writer and poet Amina Atiq, who guided them through the world of social action writing and poetry. The programme encouraged students to use their voices to explore the issues that matter most to them and to consider how writing can be a powerful tool for change.
Throughout the workshops, students discussed a range of important topics, including global warming, technology, misogyny, mental health, racism and homophobia. They then transformed their ideas into powerful personal manifestos and original poems that reflected their passions, experiences and hopes for the future.
As the weeks progressed, students developed not only their writing skills but also their confidence. They worked collaboratively with Amina to edit and refine their pieces before performing them to their classmates. It was wonderful to see students grow in self-belief and take pride in sharing their work with others.
A particularly exciting highlight of the project was the publication of six students’ pieces in the programme’s online zine. Seeing their words featured alongside the work of young people from across the country was a tremendous achievement and a proud moment for both students and staff.
The programme has been an incredible opportunity for our students to recognise the value of their own voices and experiences. We are immensely proud of their creativity, courage and willingness to speak out about issues that matter to them. It has been truly inspiring to see their words represented in print and to witness the impact that writing can have in empowering young people to make a difference.
