Applications call for Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2020

The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is the biggest poetry competition for 11-17 years olds in the world. Each year we select 100 winners (top 15 winners and 85 commended poets) of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award who win amazing prizes.

Prizes 

• All 100 winners will be invited to a prestigious Awards Ceremony in London.
• The top 15 winners will have their poems printed in the winners’ print anthology, 25,000 copies of which are distributed to school libraries and poetry enthusiasts. The anthology is also available online.
• The 85 commended poets will have their work published in an online anthology and their names in the print anthology.
• The top 15 winners will be invited to attend a life-changing residential writing course at one of the prestigious Arvon Centres, or receive mentoring from a professional poet (age-dependent). Read more about the experience.
• All 100 winners receive a year’s Youth Membership of The Poetry Society.
• All 100 winners will receive a goody bag full of books and other treats donated by our generous supporters.
• All 100 winners benefit from ongoing support and encouragement from the Poetry Society via publication, performance, and an internship programme. In the past year, Foyle Young Poets have been featured on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 6, The Times and The Guardian, and have been seen at events at Ledbury Poetry Festival, Library Club, Proms Lates at the Royal Albert Hall and Wenlock Poetry Festival.

Rules

• You must be aged 11-17 on the closing date of the 31st July 2020(inclusive) in order to enter.
• All online entries must be received by midnight BST on the 31st July 2020.
• Late online entries will not be accepted under any circumstances.
• All postal entries must be post-dated on or before the 31st July 2020.
• Individuals may enter more than one poem, however we strongly advise that you concentrate on drafting and redrafting your poems and send only a selection of your very best. Remember, quality is more important than quantity.
• You cannot enter a poem written by more than one author.
• The competition is free to enter and poems can be of any length and on any theme.
• Your work is accepted on the basis that this will be its first publication anywhere in the world. This includes anthologies, magazines, solo collections, school prints, on any website, including blogs, online magazines.
• Poems cannot have been published anywhere. This includes social media such as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram and publication including anthologies, magazines, solo collections, school prints, online magazines, blogs.
• Poems must be the original work of the author (we do run checks for plagiarism on all selected poems).
• Poems cannot have been broadcast on any regional, national or online TV station or via any radio platform).
• Poems cannot have won any other competition.
• Entries must be written in English, but you can include phrases in your mother tongue or another language. If you would like to enter an entry in British Sign Language or Braille then please contact [email protected].
• Entries will be accepted from anywhere in the world. (Note that we are unable to cover the international travel fees for winners to the award ceremony and Arvon Course).
• Competition entries cannot be returned under any circumstances. Please make sure you take note of all poems entered and send copies only.

Useful links

• See full rules here
• How to enter
• FAQs