Brigantes' plea over Harrogate competition to boost children's writing

Examples of poetry old and new - Inspiring young people to write in a prize competition by Harrogate Brigantes Rotary Club

There's just under a week to go until the closing date of Harrogate's Lockdown Lyrics poetry competition for youngsters and organisers are making a last-minute appeal for more entries.

The brain child of Harrogate Brigantes Rotary Club with the support of the Harrogate Advertiser, the idea was to come up with an activity to keep the under 12s happily and creatively occupied.

The competition will also help raise funds for Brigantes’ Covid Relief Fund.

Competition organiser Guy Wilson said: “We haven’t received many entries yet, though we know that schools are working hard on encouraging participation, so we are hoping that there will be a last minute rush before the end of term closing date.

"This competition is a great opportunity for local children to show off their creative writing skills, give us all a much needed positive message in these difficult times, and, at the same time, to do something to help those in greatest need in our community. Writing poetry can be great fun, and very rewarding, so why not give it a try?”

So far during lockdown, Harrogate Brigantes has already given over £10,000 to help those most in need in and around Harrogate because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But there is so much more that needs to be done, so many more people who need help. Lockdown Lyrics is one of the club’s initiatives that it is hoped will help raise money at this time when normal fund-raising methods are too risky or otherwise impractical.

It only costs £5 for each child to submit as many poems as they like of no more than 28 lines each on any or all of three subjects: My Hero, I Wish, and A Better World.

All children under 12 can enter and there will be a prize of a £30 book token for the best poem in each category.

The winning poems will be published.

If you have children or grandchildren under 12-years-old why not help them to do develop their creativity and, at the same time, help Brigantes make a difference in our community. The competition runs until Friday, July 17.

A downloadable entry form is available on the club’s website: www.rotaryharrogatebrigantes.org.uk

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