Call to youngsters to ensure their voices are heard

Charity Coram Voice has announced the return of Voices, the annual writing competition for children in care and young care leavers.

The competition, which is now in its fifth year, is now open for entries until February 12, 2020.

The charity, which ensures the voices of children and young people in and around the care system are heard, first launched the competition in 2016 as a platform for careexperienced young people to express their creative talents and to celebrate their voices.

The theme of this year’s competition, Dreams, was, as always, chosen by care-experienced young people.

Entries can be in any written form, including poems, short stories, raps or newspaper articles, with a 500-word limit.

There are four age categories: primary school, ages 11-14, ages 15-17, and care leavers aged 18-25.

Entries will be judged by a panel of authors, poets and presenters, due to be announced shortly, alongside young people who were finalists in last year’s competition.

Previous competition entrants said that participating had inspired them to write more, made them feel appreciated and valued for their talents and helped them to express their emotions about being in care.

One finalist in last year’s competition said: 'The benefits of the competition are that you get to write down your thoughts and feelings and people actually read it.' Another added: 'I wanted to express my feelings about being in foster care and get rid of the negative stigmas about being in care.'

Brigid Robinson, managing director of Coram Voice, said: 'It has been fantastic to see the competition go from strength to strength and to read all of the remarkable entries we’ve received over the past five years.

'This year’s theme is guaranteed to see more creative and inspiring written pieces from care experienced young people, reminding us all of their talent and resilience.'

Entries can be submitted online at coramvoice.org.uk/ voices2020.