Emma McGordon is an award-winning poet, performer and community artist. Her many awards and nominations include the 2017 Julia Darling Award from New Writing North and the longlist for the National Poetry Award 2019.

Ian Walker was also longlisted for the National Poetry Award 2019 and was the Apprentice Poet-in-Residence for the Ilkley Literature Festival 2018. He received his MFA in Poetry from the Writing School at MMU.