Friendships – Let Your Creativity Shine!
Following the tremendous success of last year’s Write for READ competition, we are thrilled to announce its return. With over 300 submissions from across the UK and beyond, the quality of your writing left our readers and judges in awe. A heartfelt thank you to all who participated, and congratulations to our winners.
Exciting News: We’re now including a KS5 category (16-18 years old) to challenge our readers and judges even further. We eagerly anticipate the entries from this age group.
This Year’s Theme: Embracing the Spirit of Heroism. In a time where heroes take many forms, we turn our focus to celebrating these remarkable figures. This year’s theme, ‘Heroes’, invites you to explore heroism, both in the real world and the realms of fiction.
From the everyday heroes who quietly make a difference, often unnoticed, to the fantastical superheroes of our imaginations, this theme is a tribute to acts of kindness, bravery, and selflessness. Whether drawing inspiration from an unsung community member, a close friend, or a family member, or conjuring up your own superhero character, we encourage you to capture the essence of what makes a hero.
This is your chance to highlight these extraordinary individuals or characters in your creative works. Let your imagination take flight and share your unique perspective on what heroism means to you.
The best submissions will be published in the UK and showcased in READ schools internationally, allowing students supported by our amazing donors to be inspired by your creativity.
Unleash Creativity – Write for READ Returns!
Following the spectacular success of last year’s Write for READ competition, we are excited to announce its much-anticipated return. With over 300 submissions from across the UK and beyond, the creativity and eloquence displayed in your entries were truly inspiring. A big thank you to everyone who participated, and congratulations to our deserving winners!
What’s New? We’re expanding our horizons by introducing a new category for KS5 (ages 16-18) to challenge our participants even further. We look forward to seeing the innovative entries from this age group.
This Year’s Theme: Embracing the Spirit of Heroism. In a world where heroes come in countless forms, this year’s theme, ‘Heroes’, celebrates these extraordinary figures. From the everyday heroes who change lives in quiet, significant ways, to the larger-than-life superheroes of fiction, this theme honors all acts of kindness, bravery, and selflessness. Draw inspiration from an unsung hero in your community, a cherished personal acquaintance, or dive into your imagination to craft a superhero story. We invite you to explore what heroism means to you and express it through your unique creative lens.
The most outstanding submissions will be published in the UK and showcased across READ schools globally, inspiring students supported by our generous donors with your imaginative works.
Calling Educators and School Leaders: We encourage teachers, school heads, and principals to get involved and support your students in participating. This is a fantastic opportunity to foster creativity and literary skills within your classrooms and to showcase your school’s commitment to the arts.
PRIZES:
• Most submissions per school: £150 book voucher.
• Key stage winners: 1st place (£100), 2nd place (£50), 3rd place (£25).
HOW TO ENTER:
Open to all UK students aged 5-18. Students under 16 require parental consent. Entries for KS1 should be handwritten; others must be word processed and remain anonymous.
• Select the appropriate Key Stage link above for prompts.
• Adhere to the word limit, ensure anonymity, and follow submission instructions.
• Complete the form below, uploading your entry with parental/guardian supervision if under 18.
• Encourage participation by sharing a photo of your work on social media.
Entries open: 6th December 2023
Deadline: 20th February 2024, 11:59 pm
JUDGING CRITERIA:
Entries will be evaluated based on creativity, originality, and expression.
WHY PARTICIPATE?
This competition serves as an essential platform for students navigating new challenges, providing an opportunity to enhance creativity and articulate their ideas and stories.
RULES:
• Free entry, one per student.
• Open to all UK residents aged 5-18, including school and home-schooled students.
• Entries must be in English, original, and free from offensive content.
• Submit via the online form.
• No group entries; late submissions will not be accepted.
• Anonymity is crucial; please exclude personal details from the entry.
• Judging involves a preliminary assessment to shortlist the top 10 entries per stage, culminating in a final evaluation by our panel of judges.
• Winners will be announced on our website in May 2024 and agree to participate in promotional activities, including the use of their full name, photograph, and location for press coverage.