Welcome Words is run by Rachel Kerr, who is a qualified teacher with 20 years' communications experience, at senior management and director level, in the arts, education and business. 


Rachel's poetry has been published in a number of UK journals and she is a graduate of the universities of Oxford and Durham, from which she has an Honours Degree in English Language & Literature, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, respectively. 

She is currently studying part time in York for an MA in Creative Writing from York St John University and has previously studied with a number of highly respected poets including Gillian Allnutt, Gillian Clarke, Carol Ann Duffy, Antony Dunn, Linda France and WN Herbert. The many organisations Rachel has worked with, and for, include:

"Rachel is a pleasure to deal    with ...constantly supportive, positive and imaginative. It is rarely that one works with   someone who so effectively   combines professionalism and   efficiency with genuine humanity and concern for others."

David Oliver  
Folkworks, The Sage, Gateshead 

Arts & Business Yorkshire
Artworks Creative Communities
Carfield Primary School, Sheffield
Crossgates Good Neighbours, Leeds
Folkworks
Gateshead Post
HALE Healthy Living Project, Bradford
Hallcroft Sheltered Housing, Shipley
Hampshire Museums
Harewood House, Leeds
Heeley City Farm, Sheffield
Ilkley Literature Festival
Kirkgate Community Centre, Shipley
Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle
Leeds Girls' High School
Leeds Grammar School
Newcastle Building Society
Northern Arts
Northern Stage Company, Newcastle
Relish Books, Leeds
South Square Centre, Bradford
Sunderland Empire Theatre
The Grammar School at Leeds
The National Garden Festival (Gateshead)
The Sponsors Club for Arts & Business
Tyne & Wear Museums Service