Deadline looms for Worcestershire's young poets

The deadline is looming for a competition for Worcestershire’s young poets.

Midnight on Monday – December 31 – is the closing time and date for Word Up!

The competition is open to young people between the ages of 13 and 19 who live in Worcestershire or attend a school, college and university or youth club in the area.

They are asked to submit two poems, one on the subject of “Change” and another on a subject of their choice.

Current Young Poet Laureate, CJ Evans, is nearing the end of her year, which has seen her championing poetry and the arts across Worcestershire.

Talking about her win last year, CJ said: "The final was unbelievable. I met so many different people whose poems were about such different things that I didn’t want to leave by the end of it.

“I heard my name and I was speechless. I am the youngest ever Young Poet Laureate and that smashed my doubts completely.

“I am so excited to be added to a list of such successful and passionate young poets and hope that I am, someday, as successful as they have been.”

Conservative councillor Lucy Hodgson, Cabinet Mfor Communities at Worcestershire County Council added: "Christmas is a time of fun and celebration but it can also be an emotional time of year.

“Writing poetry is a great way to express yourself.  Get your thoughts down and enter the Word Up! competition.

"It's very straightforward to enter log on to www.worcestershire.gov.uk/wordup.  Don't worry if you haven't written poetry before - we still want to hear from you and you never know where it will lead."

Submissions can be e-mailed to wordup@worcestershire.gov.uk or posted to: Elaine Knight, Arts Director, Severn Arts, Suite 11, Malvern Gate, Bromwich Road, Worcester, WR2 4BN.

For more information contact Natalie McVey, of the county council's Libraries and Learning Service, on 07876 144905 or 01905 765754.                 

Photo caption:  CJ Evans, current Young Poet Laureate for Worcestershire.