Young Writer

Young Writer

2025-26 Theme - 'Happiness in Nature'

The ‘Wonderful Water’ theme can be interpreted as broadly as the Young Writer wishes and does not need to conform to the dictionary definition of the word. It is intended to give young people the widest opportunity to share their creative talents in showing us what it means to them.

Introduction

This National Young Writer Competition is a well established and successful competition promoted by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (Rotary GB&I).

Aims

This competition aims to encourage young people to:

• Be creative

• Use their writing skills

• Write with imagination and creativity

Who can take part?

The competition is open to all young people who live in Thurrock, or attend Thurrock schools and college communities, including those that are home educated or attend any young people’s community organisations in Thurrock, for example, Scout Groups, Girl Guides, Sea Scouts, Air Cadets etc.

Parent/guardians can enter their own child’s work.

The three age groups are:

• Junior     Up to and including 10 years old
• Intermediate     11 to 13 years old
• Senior      14 to 17 years old

With the age qualifying date of 31st August 2025, it should be noted that some junior entrants may be 11, intermediate entrants may be 14 and some senior entrants may be 18 at the time of some or all the stage competitions i.e., a competitor may be 17 on 31st August but turns 18 on 1st September is allowed to enter.

Competitors must include their date of birth on the entry form.

For entrants with motor control difficulties, an amanuensis may be used to record the entrant’s work to paper.

Please Note: Competitors, schools, colleges, and organisations can participate in a district that is outside of the Borough of Thurrock but they may compete in only one club/district competition.

The Three Stages of the Competition

Local Heats

This local heat is organised by the ‘Rotary Club of Grays Thurrock’.

Entrants need to complete and attach the correct entry form to their writing and submit them to the event organiser, at youngwriter@rotaryclubofgraysthurrock.co.uk by Thursday 13th February 2025. The results of this local competition will be published on our website, www.graysthurrockrotary.org.uk as soon as possible after the closing date.

District Heats

The winners’ work from our Thurrock Borough event will be entered into the Rotary District 1240 Competition which is organised during March 2026.

National Finals

The winners of the district competition will then be entered into the Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland National Final.  Deadline for National Final: 30th April 2026.  The results of this final will be available during May 2026