Empowered - winners announced 😍

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Give your students the chance to be heard through poetry.

Empowered invites your students to write a poem about something they truly care about - from personal passions to global issues, this is their space to speak up and stand out.

Whether it’s exploring identity, hobbies, current affairs, or something uniquely their own, every student can use poetry to find and share their voice. This competition celebrates individuality, creativity, and confidence.

Any style. Any subject. Their voice.

Entries can take any form - from haikus and acrostics to odes, rhymes or free verse. Students can share a memory, explore a dilemma, offer advice, or simply write about something they adore.

Why take part?

🗣 Encourages self-expression and confidence

📝 Open to all writing styles and topics

🎓 Perfect for English and PSHE links

🌍 A platform to voice opinions and personal stories

Head to the 'downloads' tab for your FREE teacher toolkit - a whole host of resources to help get your students writing, including a lesson plan, poetic techniques worksheet, examples and more.

You can request as many entry forms as you need from the 'printed resources' tab and we'll post them out to you - save your printing costs!

Alternatively, check out the Writing Portal in your teacher account where students directly type their work, allowing you to submit them all together with the touch of a button.

What will inspire your students to speak up?

[Rules] =>

Only one entry per student, there is no limit to the number of entries per school. Please submit your entries altogether where possible!

Use one Teacher Entry Form per teacher entering.

Entries must be your students' own original work. (Please note on the entry if there is anything we need to take into consideration when reading the work.)

Poems can be submitted on the entry form or an A4 sheet of paper or typed (on a computer or using the Online Writing Portal)

Each student's name, age and school name should be included on their entry.

UK entrants only.

Free to enter.

[School Prizes] =>

The school that submits the best overall set of entries will win £1,000 and Young Writers' Award of Excellence.

One runner-up school will win a huge poetry book bundle.

PLUS every participating school receives a free copy of the book their pupils feature in!

(Remember, you receive 1 free copy for every 30 entries you submit! E.g. 1-30 entries you receive 1 copy, 31-60 entries you receive 2 copies, etc.)

The runner-up prize is a magnificent poetry book bundle which includes a copy of each book in the photo. A huge thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, Hachette Children's Group, Pan Macmillan, Walker Books Ltd, Trokia and Quarto for donating all the wonderful poetry books this term's competitions that are an incredible asset to any school classroom or library!

[Student Prizes] =>

Our favourite 3 writers will win a £150 gift voucher of their choice.

5 runners up will win £25 National Book Token.

PLUS

Every entrant receives a bookmark and sticker. We award a certificate of merit to all young writers chosen for publication.

(Winners will be chosen from entries received in the Summer Term 2025. Prizes will be awarded in the following term.)

[Tips] =>
[YouTube] => BAa1i458XxY [Opens] => 2025-04-21 [Closes] => 2025-06-06 [Extended] => 1 [Orion ID] => 688 [RR Ontraport ID] => 692 [DL Ontraport ID] => 691 [Post Class] => SS [Orion Teacher Year] => Secondary [How to Enter] => We're looking forward to reading your students' poems! [Winners Subheading] => We're delighted to announce the winners... [Winners Intro] =>

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Empowered competition.

We loved reading all of the entries we received.

[Winner Word] => [Schools/Clubs] => Schools [Thumbnail] => https://bonacia-sites.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/young-writers/ems/competitions/1744094920-1512-Empowered_Page-Icon.jpg [Background] => https://bonacia-sites.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/young-writers/ems/competitions/1744094921-9993-Empowered_Background.jpg [Logo] => https://bonacia-sites.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/young-writers/ems/competitions/1744094921-802-Empowered_Logo.png [Independent Intro] =>

This is your chance to be heard through poetry.

Empowered invites you to write a poem about something you truly care about - from personal passions to global issues, this is your space to speak up and stand out.

Whether it’s exploring identity, hobbies, current affairs, or something uniquely you, you can use poetry to find and share your voice. This competition celebrates individuality, creativity, and confidence.

Any style. Any subject. Their voice.

Entries can take any form - from haikus and acrostics to odes, rhymes or free verse. You can share a memory, explore a dilemma, offer advice, or simply write about something they adore.

Download the entry form below which also includes a planning sheet and poetry prompts to help you get started.

What will inspire you to speak up?

How To Enter

Ask permission from your parent/guardian to email your entry along with your name and full home address to: [email protected]

Upload your entry at www.youngwriters.co.uk/competitions/enter

Post your entry along with your name and full home address to:

Young Writers - Empowered
Remus House
Peterborough
PE2 9BF

Closing Date: 23rd May 2025

[Independent Rules] =>

Only one entry per person.

Your entry must be your own original work.

UK entrants only.

Your poem can be submitted on the entry form or an A4 sheet of paper or typed.

Your name, age and full home address should be included on your entry.

[Independent Prizes] =>

Our favourite 3 writers will win a £150 gift voucher of their choice.

5 runners up will win £25 National Book Token.

PLUS

Every entrant receives a bookmark and sticker. We award a certificate of merit to all young writers chosen for publication.

(Winners will be chosen from entries received in the Summer Term 2025. Prizes will be awarded in the following term.)

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This competition is now closed.

🏆

Winners Announced!

Congratulations to all the winners! The results for this competition have been published.

View Winners

Open competitions can be found here.