Nine plays performed at theatres in Lancashire and Yorkshire, including Manchester, Leeds and Wakefield. Prizewinner at Sheffield One-Act Play Festival. Short stories published in anthologies and magazines. Short story prizewinner at Lincolnshire's Wolds Words Festival, Armagh Writers Festival and Jersey Arts Centre. Poet in Residence in Wakefield Hospitals, Wakefield Cathedral and North Yorkshire Libraries. Tutor in creative writing for WEA, in playwriting at Harrogate Theatre, Writer in Residence in Bradford schools.

Plays: Doublecross (co-written with Helen Shay) performed at The Carriageworks theatre in Leeds and at Otley Community Theatre, 2010. Winner of the Stanley Arnold Trophy for the play Life Sentence, Sheffield One-Act Play Festival, 2009. Previously: Life Sentence performed in Leeds and Manchester; All Good Men in Leeds and Bradford; Till My Eyes Bleed in Leeds, and at Ilkley Festival Fringe; Luvvies in Wakefield; A Real Cushy Number at Featherstone Community Theatre; The Navigator's Daughter at Wakefield Powerhouse One theatre, QWERTYUIOP at Featherstone and Wakefield. Poetry: Poems featured in Emerging Poets, published by livecanon; and in The Cannon’s Mouth published by the Cannon Poets, both 2009; previously featured in Front Runner, anthology of Yorkshire's Black Horse Poets, and in magazines Markings and In Balance. Poems commissioned by Leeds Hospitals, 2008. Lyrics commissioned by Leeds College of Music for Leeds Lieder festival concert, 2007. Previously: Poet in Residence Wakefield Hospitals; Poet in Residence at Whitby resulting in publication of Poetry in Motion, a book of poems about the area; Poet in Residence, Wakefield Cathedral; published book of poems Life Class; commissioned by Wakefield Libraries to write and perform series of poems on the reading experience, resulting in publication of booklet Off The Shelf; commissioned to write and perform for first Whitby Caedmon Literary Festival; poetry performances also include: Wakefield, Leeds, Skipton, Bradford, Sheffield, Ilkley Literature Festival, schools in North, West and South Yorkshire. Short stories: Short stories featured in: Yorkshire Mixture anthologies, published by Yorkshire Art Circus; Storyteller magazine. Previously in Jackie and 19.

Prizewinner: Grace Dieu Writers' Circle, 2009. Previously prizewinner at Wolds Words Festival, Armagh Writers Festival, Jersey Arts Centre. Also: co-edited Arctic Night, anthology of short stories for Featherstone Arts Festival; organised Festival’s international short story competitions. Teaching: Writer in Residence, Bradford Schools, 2010. Previously: Tutor in playwriting, Harrogate Theatre; tutor in creative writing and literature, Workers Educational Association.

Michael Yates: Tutor - Creative Writing Course

Michael has worked as a creative writing tutor for the Workers' Educational Association since September 2002. Initially the group was small but under Michael's guidance the group has grown both in size and confidence. As a tutor Michael is always well prepared and his courses are well thought out with thorough planning. His style of delivery is very warm, friendly and encouraging, this is much appreciated by the learners who speak very highly of Michael on their evaluation forms.

All course paperwork is dealt with properly and efficiently.

Michael has also delivered a one day workshop 'Getting Published' for a colleague - Feeback from this was also very positive.

In September this year Michael started an additional course in another part of the district and this group is now flourishing.

I have no hesitation in recommending Michael to colleagues or other providers to deliver courses in this subject area.

WEA

I have known Michael Yates for several years now since he formed the Black Horse Poets in Wakefield. As well as being a poet whose work I admire, his energy and vision have ensured that the group has remained a vibrant force within the Yorkshire Poetry scene.

In my previous post as Head of English at Castleford High School, I invited Michael into school to work with pupils on aspects of creative writing. The event was so successful I had no hesitation in extending another invitation to him when I tokk up my present post at Balby Carr Community Sports College in Doncaster.

Michael fronted our National Poetry Day event engaging with pupils, encouraging their efforts and celebrating the reading and writing of poetry. On that particular day I was impressed by the preparations made by Michael and the extent to which he was prepared to join in those activities beyond his remit for the day.

Whether working with young people or adults, Michael is extremely generous with his time and responses. I wouldn't hesitate to extend similar invitations to him and I thoroughly recommend him as a poetry tutor.

Head of English Barlby Carr Community Sports College