Tag: writing competition

Letters: RNIB invites youngsters with a vision impairment to enter writing competition

Dear Editor,

Gearing up for the celebrations of this year’s World Book Day on 7 March 2024, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is inviting children with a vision impairment to submit a piece of creative writing for its World Book Day writing competition.

The final competition winners will be judged by multi- award-winning children’s writer Sir Michael Morpurgo – author of books including War Horse and Private Peaceful. The overall winner will receive ten signed copies of Michael Morpurgo’s books.

Writing submissions must be on the theme of ‘adventure’. Taking the lead from RNIB’s motto, ‘See differently’, the charity wants to celebrate different ways of seeing, sensing and taking part in an adventure that children have been on, or that they can imagine.

No previous experience of creative writing is required and RNIB is keen to receive submissions from as many young people aged 5-12 as possible.

Writing and being creative is hugely beneficial and enjoyable for everyone, especially when going through big life-changes such as growing up.

Hearing the unique perspectives of young writers who have a vision impairment will be a real privilege and I can’t wait to read the fabulous work that I’m sure will be created. We are delighted that Michael Morpurgo has agreed to pick the winner for us as part of his support for RNIB’s World Book Day celebrations.

Competition Rules

  • The competition is open to any child or young person between the ages of 5-12 years with a vision impairment in the UK. 
  • The competition runs from 9am on 1 January 2024, to midnight 18 February 2024. 
  • Send in an original piece of writing up to 500 words in a Word document, MP3 audio or MP4 video, via email. 
  • The piece of writing must be based on the theme ‘Adventure’. 
  • Submissions must be in English. 
  • The use of AI, such as ChatGPT is not permitted. 
  • One submission per author: this will be the first entry emailed to us. 
  • Email all entries with the subject of “WBD competition” to lara.marshall@rnib.org.uk. 
  • The top three entries will be sent to award-winning author Michael Morpurgo for him to choose the final winner. 
  • All entries submitted will be read and shortlisted by RNIB’s library team.

Prizes

  • The winner will receive a signed set of ten of Michael Morpurgo’s books, in their preferred format.

Some suggestions to inspire you, but please feel free to come up with your own ideas too:

  • Travelling somewhere new on holiday.
  • Having a crazy dream.
  • Encountering a strange individual.
  • Finding an interesting artefact. Going on a quest to find mysterious treasure.
  • Finding yourself lost in a place you’ve never been before.
  • Having to save a friend in peril.

Good luck!

Lara Marshall,

Library Engagement Manager, RNIB

Peter Capaldi to host Voices 2021 creative writing competition for children in care/care leavers

The charity Coram Voice will celebrate the awards ceremony of Voices 2021, its national creative writing competition for children in care and young care leavers, virtually again this year due to ongoing pandemic restrictions.  

The ceremony will be streamed on the Coram Voice YouTube channel from 5pm tomorrow (14 July) and will be co-hosted by award-winning Scottish actor and former Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi, a long-standing supporter of the competition, and Voices 2019 winner Sophia Hall.

It will also feature members of the competition judging panel announcing this year’s winners, including the children’s authors Abi Elphinstone and Cynthia Murphy, novelist Kirsty Capes and the poet Joelle Taylor.  

Peter Capaldi said: “It is an honour to host the Voices awards ceremony again this year. The competition is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the creativity and talent of care-experienced young people and builds greater understanding around their lives and experiences.”  

Sophia Hall said: “I am delighted to be co-hosting this year’s award ceremony with Peter. I’m a proud care experienced person, but that wasn’t always the case. I used to hide the fact I was in care, and never really spoke about it when I was a teenager.

“Today, after being encouraged by organisations such as Coram, my peers, and the wider community, I embrace my experience as an important and integral part of my identity. The Voices competition means a lot to me because it’s all about encouraging young people in care to use their voices, and encouraging non-care experienced people to listen”.  

This year marks the sixth anniversary of the Voices competition, which is sponsored by UK management consultancy Cadence Innova.

The competition received over 250 entries on the theme of ‘What Makes Life Good’ submitted from across the country. Just 24 of these have been shortlisted over four age categories: primary (age 4-10), lower secondary (age 11-14), upper secondary (age 15-17) and care leavers (age 18-25).  

Brigid Robinson, Managing Director of Coram Voice, said: “The uncertainty and disruption of the pandemic has made the past year incredibly challenging for many children and young people in and leaving the care system.

“But reading the competition entries, we have been so inspired by the stories and poems that show how children and young people are using their strength and creativity to deal with these difficult experiences. Their motivation and resilience is an inspiration to all.  

“I want to congratulate all the young people who entered this year’s competition. This is your night, and we are delighted to be able to host the awards online so that we can all celebrate together and share the talents of every young person who took part.”  

Gary Ashby, Founding Partner at Cadence Innova, the Headline Sponsor of Voices 2021, said: “It is our third year sponsoring the Voices competition and we are delighted to be working with Coram once again. The Voices Awards champion children’s creativity and development and we are immensely proud to be a part of this inspiring contest. We hope that the artistic exploration of this year’s topic – What makes life good – will not only help the participants explore their creative sides, but also grow their confidence for the future.”   

To find out more about the Voices 2021 competition and how you can tune in on 14 July, please visit coramvoice.org.uk/voices.  

Could North Edinburgh be home to a children’s national writing competition winner?

The world’s learning company Pearson is looking for budding young authors in North Edinburgh to give a modern twist to traditional tales with their new national writing competition.  Continue reading Could North Edinburgh be home to a children’s national writing competition winner?