#iWrite
Inspiring creativity through writing, promoting an appreciation for storytelling.
Launched 28 September 2020
One of our initiatives is an exciting creative writing competition, ‘iWrite’.
The objective of the initiative is to improve children and young people's confidence in writing, providing an opportunity to develop their writing and reading skills, but also, to showcase their creativity!
Our first competition was open to children aged between 8 – 16 and saw one lucky winner receive a brand new Microsoft Surface laptop, accessories and an iEMPOW3R writing set, worth £500. Our second competition was all around positive, uplifting and empowering poetry, as well as poetry discussing things young people were passionate about i.e. climate action. 10 winners were selected who all received an Amazon tablet device courtesy of our sponsor, Arnold Clark.
And we've just completed our third competition and it was open to everyone, all ages.
Benefits of Creative Writing
Studies show that children who practice creative writing more often are generally better in other subjects too like maths, science, and languages.
Challenging themselves to come up with creative thoughts and problem solve, builds the confidence and discipline students need to succeed in all areas of life.
Building Confidence
Artistic Self-Expression
Thought Clarification
Better Understanding of the Mechanics of Reading and Writing
Empathy and Communication Skills
Better Mental, Emotional, and Physical Health
We love to hear from you, let us know your feedback!
Participant Feedback
Sarah: "I took part in the competition because i have been writing stories for a while, but i actually wanted to do something with them. Writing makes me feel inspired and creative. I really enjoy it. I was excited when i took part in the competition because I haven’t entered many before."
Sarah: "I took part in the competition because i have been writing stories for a while, but i actually wanted to do something with them. Writing makes me feel inspired and creative. I really enjoy it. I was excited when i took part in the competition because I haven’t entered many before."
Leona: "I wanted something different to explore in lockdown so I thought this competition would be good. Writing can sometimes feel like a chore but once your imagination is in the flow of things it can be quite nice. I felt proud I entered my piece and excited if I won the prize."
Leona: "I wanted something different to explore in lockdown so I thought this competition would be good. Writing can sometimes feel like a chore but once your imagination is in the flow of things it can be quite nice. I felt proud I entered my piece and excited if I won the prize."
Clementine: "I took part in the competition because I have always loved the thought of writing knowing someone else is going to judge it and look through the ideas of the story. I write to express emotions and show my feelings through words. I felt excited as there are endless possibilities in writing."
Clementine: "I took part in the competition because I have always loved the thought of writing knowing someone else is going to judge it and look through the ideas of the story. I write to express emotions and show my feelings through words. I felt excited as there are endless possibilities in writing."
Safa: " I took part in the competition as I felt the need to express my thoughts and views through my poems. Writing makes me happy, it makes me experience like I am in the same reality as my characters are in. I am really passionate about my writing and reading. I felt feverish and anxious to revel in a competition at first in an online competition however I perceive; it doesn't matter if I win or lose only that I at least participated in it and tried my best. Thank you Ms.Yasmine Mohamed for organizing this amazing platform where we tiny buds are encouraged and motivated to write. I am genuinely happy that I came across this page."
Safa: " I took part in the competition as I felt the need to express my thoughts and views through my poems. Writing makes me happy, it makes me experience like I am in the same reality as my characters are in. I am really passionate about my writing and reading. I felt feverish and anxious to revel in a competition at first in an online competition however I perceive; it doesn't matter if I win or lose only that I at least participated in it and tried my best. Thank you Ms.Yasmine Mohamed for organizing this amazing platform where we tiny buds are encouraged and motivated to write. I am genuinely happy that I came across this page."
Fatma (Parent of 3 participants): "As it’s lockdown I wanted something for my children to occupy their time, and this was good one. I encourage writing as I believe it will help children with anything they decide to do later in life. Very impressed as to see fellow Somali doing well and giving back to the community. Good work and good initiative, I hope other people will fellow and we can inspire the next generation."
Fatma (Parent of 3 participants): "As it’s lockdown I wanted something for my children to occupy their time, and this was good one. I encourage writing as I believe it will help children with anything they decide to do later in life. Very impressed as to see fellow Somali doing well and giving back to the community. Good work and good initiative, I hope other people will fellow and we can inspire the next generation."
Vita: "I love writing and would like to know how good it is. I forget about time and everything else when I am creating a story."
Vita: "I love writing and would like to know how good it is. I forget about time and everything else when I am creating a story."
iWrite 2022 is a wrap! Congratulations to our participants!
iWrite 2022 is a wrap! Congratulations to our participants!
2021
10 Winners
Read some of the winning entries below…
2020
Winner: Zaara
Title: The Town With Colour Packed Away in Boxes
Runners Up: Daniel + Zhian + Finn
Congratulations All!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clementine
“There's endless possibilities in writing!”
Daithi
“I have a big imagination and find writing relaxing”
Hope
“Writing makes me feel alive.”
Saarah
“Learning and working from home can be stressful... Writing just helps calm me and drain the creativity”
Ellie
“I feel quite proud of myself for entering the competition because I don't usually enter them”
Zaarah, iWrite 2020 Winner
“Writing makes me feel free in a way to express myself”
2021 COMPETITION WINNERS
2021 COMPETITION WINNERS
Congratulations All!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“I Stay Here” by Jessica Gregory
It would be so much easier to run
To a home with central heating,
Where my frozen hands can thaw.
But I stay here.
It would be so much easier to run
And buy the nearest beef burger,
Despite my vegetarianism.
But I stay here.
I stay here waving my placard high above my head,
Screaming that there is no planet B.
So, I let my hands freeze and my stomach growl,
Determined to fight.
I may be one person,
But I know that’s not all this is.
We are a global fight,
And we’ll make sure we win.
Serendipity by Shreya Jammalamadaka
Eyeing sunrise on the horizon, watching the beachy tide
Wash away our etchings in the grainy sand
Nothing lasts forever my love, just hold my hand and
Look at life’s adversities in its face
don’t agonize over the storm ahead, march at your own pace
look at the beauty of diversity, enjoy the colours and poise
feel the serendipity offered, find the peace in the noise.
Happy Human Day by Bernice Lok
Howls scratched the wounded wind.
There he cries on his mother’s feet,
“Fear not child”,
She whispers and stares at her broken establishments.
The soft earth is a gentle cradle,
Nurturing the harmless newborns.
It rocks the stars and continents asleep,
Breaths in the unprotected souls,
And heals the troubled.
The tainted clouds carefully slid into a guileful desire,
And quietly observes this fair of absurdity,
A party and celebration of a Human Day.
Again he sobers, and peeks at the polluted sea.
Rumbling angrily beneath his perfect innocence and
Shaking under his mother’s name.
Get up girls by Debbie
Let’s raise our voices
We refuse to be silent
And we refuse to be hidden.
We’ll let our lights shine
So bright that it ignites
The labels you’ve put on us,
Into intense ember flames
That burn brighter than our ambition.
Get up girls
Let’s pick up our pens -
The symbol of our future
The token of our labour.
We’ll scribble all over
The ‘girls don’t deserve
To have an education.
Get up girls
Let’s put on our boxing gloves
And let me warn you now -
They’re made for punching;
We’ll give you a kick
Right in the stereotypes
We’ve been hiding for too long
And now our time has come.
Yes, we’ll get up as girls
But we rise as women
Because we will now cast away
Our period of childhood,
Of crouching, of waiting -
We stand strong!
United!
A force to be reckoned with!
A beacon of hope
To the girls in that never-ending darkness
Trying to find their way
Home.