Pubished Date: 13/07/2026
Deadline Date: 14/09/2026
London Writers Centre is pleased to announce that applications are now open for London-based D/deaf and/or disabled writers to apply for our Disabled Writers Commissions.
These commissions aim to showcase new work by three London-based D/deaf and/or disabled writers, and provide a developmental and profile-raising opportunity. The commissions will be judged by Ayesha Chouglay, Joseph Rizzo Naudi and Jameisha Prescod (pictured).
The deadline for applications is 10am on Monday 14 September 2026.
Outline information about the commissions is available in BSL here, or as as an audio recording here. To request information in alternative formats, please contact us.
To find out how to apply, visit our Project page.
Who are the commissions for?
London-based D/deaf and/or disabled writers aged 18+ who are writing poetry, fiction, narrative non-fiction or writing for performance. Writers should be committed to developing their writing and to taking forward their writing careers.
By D/deaf and/or disabled we mean people who have faced disablist and/ or audist barriers. This includes: Deaf, deaf and hard-of-hearing people, blind and visually impaired people, people with mobility impairments, chronic illnesses, mental health conditions or experience of mental distress, and/ or learning disabilities, neurodivergent people, and people living with chronic health conditions or impairments.
We particularly welcome applications from deaf and disabled writers from the following communities: Black, Asian, Global Majority; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQIA+); working class or from a working-class upbringing; on a low income; care experienced; and Deaf BSL speakers.
To view the online information session to hear more about the programme, click here. The session is BSL interpreted.
For full eligibility criteria, please see our Terms & Conditions.
About the commissions
Three writers will be commissioned to each create a short original piece of work. This work can be entirely new or be developed from existing work which has not been published or produced.
The commissions have an open brief and there is no theme which the work has to respond to. Commissions don’t need to reference disability, but can if you’d wish them to, and can cover any topic.
We are looking to commission writers who can show a clear idea of what they want to create with this piece of work, and which is realistic to deliver within the timeframe and with the resources available.
Commissioned writers will each receive:
- £1,000 commission fee
- Three sessions with a mentor
- One to one development and production support from London Writers Centre
- Publication of their work in a pamphlet/zine, distributed at Deptford Literature Festival 2027 and online
- A platform to showcase their work to an audience at Deptford Literature Festival on Saturday 20 March 2027
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