Powerful New Collection of Poetry from Men Across Leeds

Forum Central is proud to share the launch of Manthology, a remarkable new collection of 62 poems from 57 men across Leeds. Led by Touchstone for Men’s Health Unlocked, this project brings together voices from all walks of life to create a legacy piece in time for International Men’s Day 2025.

Manthology builds on the earlier 21st Century Man consultation, continuing the mission of celebrating men’s identities, experiences and emotional lives through creativity. Poetry became the medium of choice – a form that offers honesty, vulnerability and a way to see directly into the hearts and minds of the writers.

View The Manthology here.

A City-Wide Callout and Community Effort

The call for poems began in March 2025 and travelled far and wide across Leeds. Submissions arrived by email, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and even handwritten notes. Alongside this, seven poetry workshops were held across the city – from The Leeds Library and LeftBank Leeds, to Gipton Old Fire Station, Dewsbury Road Community Hub and Northlight.

Facilitated by a range of well-known Leeds poets including Peter Spafford, Spencer Wood, Michelle Scally Clarke, Todd Murphy, Maz Sultan and others, the workshops quickly became safe spaces where men could talk openly about life, loss, identity, mental health, relationships and belonging. Some participants had never written a poem before; others rediscovered a long-lost practice. Many returned week after week, building confidence and forming meaningful connections.

These sessions were not simply about writing – they became a place for men to support one another, laugh, cry, share stories and make sense of their experiences.

A Powerful and Diverse Collection

The resulting anthology offers a wide breadth of themes:

• Mental health and resilience

• Fatherhood, family and legacy

• Identity, masculinity and self-expression

• Love, grief, humour and hope

• Nature, place and belonging

• Life in Leeds and Yorkshire pride

Some poems are deeply personal, some playful, some raw and honest – all offered generously, with no payment or conditions, simply because the writers wanted their words to be read and understood.

The collection also includes a group poem created collaboratively at the final workshop, capturing the spirit of community that has defined the project.

More Than a Book: A Growing Movement

The project extended beyond workshops and submissions. Contributors gathered for “Poetry Socials” to explore how Manthology could continue to inspire others. This led to an episode of the Love The Words podcast on Chapel FM, where several poets performed their work and discussed their writing journeys.

Manthology is available online, with a limited print run produced for launch. It stands as a snapshot of 2025 – a year where men across Leeds chose to express themselves openly and creatively.

About Men’s Health Unlocked

Men’s Health Unlocked is a Leeds-based partnership supporting men to connect with services, build wellbeing and tackle male-specific health inequalities. Founded in 2020, the partnership works to raise awareness, influence decision-makers and ensure men’s voices are heard across the city. This anthology is a shining example of that mission in action.

A Final Word

In the words of Project Lead and Curator Maz Sultan, one of the most important messages to come out of the project is simple:

“Poetry is for everyone.”

Manthology invites readers to laugh, reflect, understand others, and perhaps see themselves in a poem or two. Every piece holds a moment of honesty from someone connected to Leeds – and every poem was written in the hope that it would be shared, talked about and cared for.

We invite you to explore this extraordinary collection and join us in celebrating the creativity and courage of the men who contributed to it.