MNHQ here: 'Voices' writing competition

[FinnMumsnet]

Hello,

Coram Voice, the children's charity, have been in touch with Mumsnet. Voices, their UK-wide writing competition for children in care and care leavers, has been launched for its second year, and they are reaching out to parents who have adopted or fostered, to encourage children to enter.

The competition, they explain, "aims to provide a positive platform for care-experienced children and young people to celebrate their creativity and challenge some of the stigmas they often face. This year’s theme is 'New Beginnings', and gives young people the chance to write about an opportunity they’ve had to try something new, make a fresh start or overcome a challenge."

The competition is grouped in three age categories primary school, secondary school and care leavers with a special additional award for migrant children in care or care leavers. Entries can be in any written style, including poems, short stories and newspaper articles, with a 500 word limit, and should be submitted online at coramvoice.org.uk/voices-2017 before 21 February.

This year's panel of judges will include:
· Alex Wheatle, winner of the 2016 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize;
· Jackie Long, Social Affairs Editor for Channel 4 News;
· Jenny Molloy, author of ‘Hackney Child’;
· Paolo Hewitt, music journalist, writer and author of ‘The Looked After Kid’;
· Nikesh Shukla, writer and editor of ‘The Good Immigrant’;
· Keren David, author of young adult fiction including ‘Salvage’; and
· Luke Stevenson, Children’s Social Care Journalist for Community Care.

Winners will be announced by the judges at an awards ceremony in London on 10 April.

Thanks,
MNHQ

[StealthPolarBear]

Not sure how I ended up on this thread but bumping anyway :) sounds like an excellent competition and good luck to everyone who enters.

[ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap]

Great idea. All sorts of very talented young creatives out there, and good that an established platform is there for those with care system experience. Best of luck, everyone

MNHQ,
Just to flag up to you: clicking the 2nd link supplied brings up massive red triangle warning about non-private connection and hackers potentially stealing passwords etc....

Given the sensitivities involved, that would be hugely off-putting to any young person looking into the Coram Voice competition (though it might just be my Norton360 virus protection being overzealous?!).

[PhilODox]

Is it worth also posting this in the adoption/fostering board?

[fasparent]

Agree with Zuzu , though different provider, and security system, Happened on the first link.
Would be cautious

[ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap]

Update:
I (cautiously!) retested the link just now.

It's working safely and smoothly, so I guess the Techies have worked their magic

(Thought I'd better state that clearly, in case my previous post deterred anybody from entering what sounds like a great competition...).

[AliceDMumsnet]

Hello,

For anyone who was interested in this competition:

On Monday, Coram Voice announced the winners of Voices 2017 - the winning entries are available to read here

Thanks,
MNHQ

[ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap]

AliceDMumsnet,

Thanks for the linked update.

Have just read through the shortlisted work, as well as the winners: some really moving writing there.

Well done to everybody