Young writers in Worcestershire are being encouraged to participate in the Young Poet Laureate competition. The contest is open to students from school years six to 13 and invites them to explore themes that resonate with them.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 28.
In celebration of World Book Day, the current Young Poet Laureate, Iona Campbell, wrote a poem about the power of storytelling. She explained that the idea for her poem came from the thought that “the end of a book is the beginning of the stories forming in the reader’s mind” and that characters “leave a lasting impression.”
Councillor Karen May, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member for communities, praised Campbell’s work, saying, “Iona’s poem beautifully captures the magic of storytelling, showing just how powerful words can be.” She also highlighted the competition as a great opportunity for young people to showcase their creativity and talent.
This year, the competition encourages young people in Worcestershire to submit a poem on the theme of ‘courage.’ Entries will be judged in three age categories: school years six to eight, school years nine to 11, and school years 12 to 13.
The finalists from each age group will perform their poems live at The Hive in Worcester, where a winner will be chosen from each category. One of these winners will be crowned Worcestershire’s Young Poet Laureate for 2025.
The competition is a collaborative effort between Worcestershire County Council Library Service and Severn Arts, with funding provided by Public Health Worcestershire.
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