[11] According to TLC Director Aki Schilz: "The SI Leeds Prize offers a vital opportunity to women writers from black and Asian communities whose voices as we all know are often marginalised from the publishing landscape.

It is encouraging to feel that that landscape is finally making shifts in the direction of genuinely more representative and inclusive publishing, with a springing-up of initiatives and a rallying cry from those demanding to be heard and for the right to tell their stories as well as be given the critical artistic freedom to write creatively.

Secondly, it's the opportunities it offers not just in the cash awards but, for the winning author, to have a free place on an Arvon creative writing course of their choice; and for Peepal Tree Press to consider their manuscript for publication.

"[23] In the words of patron Carolyn Choa, "The prize endeavours to encourage those not born into the mainstream of British culture, and offers a possible course towards the rich, all-embracing intellectual landscape of which Britain so rightly boasts.

"[24] The 2012 prize (judged by Margaret Busby, Hannah Bannister and Gail Bolland)[25] was won by Minoli Salgado for A Little Dust on the Eyes[25][26][27] (published in 2014 by Peepal Tree Press).

[28][29] In second place was Borrowed Light by Karen Onojaife, who also won the SI Readers' Choice award; and tied third were A Tiny Speck of Black and then Nothing by Emily Midorikawa,[30][31] and Storybank: The Milkfarm Years by Jane Steele.