Shaniqua Benjamin –

Shaniqua is a poet, writer, creative workshop facilitator, and Croydon’s first Poet Laureate. She used her passion for making a difference to found Young People Insight CIC, a platform that empowers young people through creativity, conversation and writing. 

Shaniqua wrote the lyrics for the London Mozart Players' Anthem for Peace, wrote and performed a specially commissioned poem for the reopening of South London’s biggest arts centre, Fairfield Halls, and wrote poems for both of Croydon's bids for London Borough of Culture.

Shaniqua has performed at a number of events, including the Thornton Heath Lights Festival, Field Day Festival and as part of Apples & Snakes' immersive spoken word show, Rallying Cry. She has facilitated workshops for Spread The Word, Writerz & Scribez, Total Insight Theatre and Stanley Arts. Shaniqua is also part of the organising team behind the Living in Poetry Festival, which took place in Croydon in 2018 and 2019.