Congratulations to this year’s winners! And a heartfelt thank you to everyone who entered. The standard this year was exceptionally high, the range of voices and stories a reminder of the remarkable talent in our writing community.

Enormous gratitude to the people who helped make this competition possible :
• our judges for the care and time they put into every submission

• Jennifer C Wilson for lending her considerable talent, warmth, and humour to the awards

• and to Newcastle Preparatory School and Karen Hesse, who generously donated prizes. Your support makes it possible for us to celebrate and champion talented local writers each year. 

Children

  • Emmeline W. ‘Tree’ – Tied
  • 2nd place Claudia W. ‘Homecoming’ – Tied 2nd place
  • Lillie HS ‘The lonely tree’ – 1st place

Young Adult Prize

Eshal R. ‘My true roots’ – 1st place 

Adult Poetry

  • Daniel Jordan ‘Am I still a Geordie?’ – Highly Commended
  • Penny Blackburn ‘Déjà Vu’ – Highly Commended
  • Sarah Benjamin ‘My roots are deep and wide’ – 3rd place
  • Belinda Brady ‘Rebirth’ – 2nd place
  • Berlin Abraham ‘Aunties’ – 1st place

Adult Short Story

  • Alexandra Heppell ‘Time for Trees’ – Highly Commended
  • T.J. Reade ‘Connections’ – Highly Commended
  • Joanne Harrison ‘Coming home, Newcastle’ – 3rd place
  • Elaine Gregersen ‘Disco Down’ – 2nd place
  • Khudeeja Begum ‘The cartography of my veins’ – 1st place