Young Telford writers win awards
A competition held by Telford & Wrekin Council Libraries has seen four young people win book tokens for their work.
Yasmin Lavery, Michael Gregg, Charlotte Pearson and Ali Scott were all awarded book tokens and certificates for their submissions into the Young Writers’ Competition which was open to youngsters in the Borough aged between 11 and 19.
The competition has been funded by the NHS as part of the Teen Life Check project which encourages young people to use the Teen Life Check website and the library to improve their overall health and well-being.
To enter the competition the young people were required to submit a short story or poem of no more than 500 words entitled ‘Teenage Lifestyles’.
Judging the entries was Catherine Cooper, a local children’s author, Matt James who runs the local Young Writer’s Group, and members of library staff.
Yasmin Lavery won first prize of a £50 book token in the 15 to 19 age group, with Michael Gregg taking the runners-up prize of a £30 book token. In the 11 to 14 year age group Charlotte Pearson took home the first prize, with the runners up prize going to Ali Scott.
The winners were presented with their prizes at the National Trust’s Sunnycroft property in Wellington by Catherine Cooper. Storyteller Andy Hawkins was there to recite the winning entries while illustrator Fran O’Boyle created drawings inspired by their work.
Cllr Arnold England, Cabinet Member for Leisure & Well-being, said: “A great number of entries were received for this competition and the standard has been extremely high in both age groups.
“I am delighted that we have such talented young writers in the area but also that this has highlighted the Teen Life Check website set up by the NHS.”
The winning stories and the drawings created by Fran O’Boyle are available to view on the Council website www.telford.gov.uk/libraries
