Funded by Arts Council England, the Faber New Poets programme is an exciting new venture whose aim is to create a culture of support for select new poets at pre-first collection stage. By offering a tri-partite package of financial assistance, mentorship and pamphlet publication by Faber, the scheme intends to provide care and direction to four talented new stars in 2009, with four similar awards to be made in 2010. In 2009, the awarded poets are Fiona Benson, Heather Phillipson Toby Martinez de las Rivas and Jack Underwood.