Unite
Poetry Competition
Ideal for 11-18
What matters to you?
Your friends. Your family. Your community. Something you love. Something you'd change. A cause you believe in.
Everyone has something they care about. Unite is your chance to turn yours into a poem.
There's no set theme with Unite. You could write about something personal, something happening in the world around you, something you believe in, or the kind of future you'd like to see.
The important bit? Write about something that matters to you.
Not sure what to write about?
Start with the one that feels most like you - there's no right answer.
MY PEOPLE
Write about someone, or a group of people, who matters to you.
A best friend • someone in your family • your team • your community • someone you miss • someone who inspires you
MY WORLD
Write about a place, experience or part of your life that matters to you.
Where you live • your culture • school • nature • a favourite place • a memory • something you do every day
MY VOICE
Write about something you believe in, care about or want to change.
Something that feels unfair • a cause • something that makes you angry • something people misunderstand • a message you want heard
OUR FUTURE
Write about the kind of world you'd like to be part of.
Hope • kindness • belonging • celebrating difference • working together • a dream for the future • making things better
Still stuck? Start with one person, one place, one feeling or one thing you'd change. Your poem can grow from there.
Make it yours...
Write a poem about something that matters to you.
It can be personal, funny, thoughtful, angry, hopeful, serious, or completely unexpected. You can use any poetic style and any poetic techniques you like.
The main rule: keep it to 80 lines or fewer.
ANY STYLE
Free verse, rhyme, spoken-word style, acrostic, haiku, or something entirely your own.
YOUR VOICE
You don't need to sound 'poetic', write in a way that feels natural to you.
UP TO 80 LINES
Long enough to say something meaningful, short enough to keep it focused.
What if your poem was published?
You've written something that matters to you. Now imagine seeing your words in a real book.
You have the chance to see your poem published in a Young Writers anthology alongside writing from other young people across the UK.
Young writers whose work we'd love to publish also receive a Certificate of Merit recognising their achievement.
Your words. Your voice. A real audience.
And there are prizes to win...
1ST PRIZE
Beats headphones £100 Amazon voucher
2 × 2ND PRIZES
Kindles
3 × 3RD PRIZES
£50 cinema vouchers
Ready to enter?
Your poem can be written on an entry form, on a sheet of A4 paper, or typed. When it's ready, choose the easiest way to send it to us:
EMAIL
Email your poem, along with your name and full address, to:
[email protected]
[email protected]
UPLOAD ONLINE
Upload your poem using the
Young Writers online entry form →
POST
Include your name and full address and send your poem to:
Young Writers Unite
Remus House
Peterborough
PE2 9BF
Remus House
Peterborough
PE2 9BF
Closing date: Friday 23rd October 2026
Rules
To make sure your entries are valid, please follow the rules listed below:
YOUR POEM
- Your poem must be your original work.
- Keep your poem to 80 lines or fewer.
- There is no word limit, but we recommend staying under 750 words.
- Only one entry per person.
- Please note on your entry if there is anything we need to take into consideration when reading your work.
PREPARING YOUR ENTRY
- Your poem can be written on the entry form, an A4 sheet of paper or typed.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Free to enter.
- UK entrants only.
- No purchase necessary to win.
- Copyright remains with the author.
If you are unsure on any rules or have any queries, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.
Prizes
1ST PRIZE
Beats headphones £100 Amazon gift card
The first-place poet will win a pair of Beats headphones and a £100 Amazon gift card.
2 × 2ND PRIZES
Kindles
Two second-place winners will each win a Kindle.
3 × 3RD PRIZES
£50 cinema gift cards
Three third-place winners will each receive a £50 cinema gift card.
PLUS
Every entrant receives a bookmark. We also award a Certificate of Merit to all young writers whose work we'd love to publish.
Every entrant receives a bookmark. We also award a Certificate of Merit to all young writers whose work we'd love to publish.
Winners will be chosen from published entries received in the autumn term 2026. No purchase necessary. Independent entrants are eligible to win. Prizes will be awarded the following term.