Budding young authors receive their rewards

Pupils from 12 primary schools took part in the first ever Hartlepool Writing Competition, organised by Hartlepool Borough Council’s Children’s Services Department.

The challenge was to produce a piece of creative writing inspired by the title ‘The Arrival’. The results were excellent, with short stories on subjects ranging from alien visitors and the Battle of Hastings to the Titanic and the Vikings.

The winners in the various age categories received a book and a book token and all finalists received a book. In addition, the prize-winning stories and the names of all the children who took part were printed in a special book which was presented to the children and their schools.

The budding authors with their prizes

The prizes were handed out by Hartlepool writer Niel Bushnell, author of the Timesmith Chronicles, and Sally Robinson, the Council’s Director of Children’s and Joint Commissioning Services, at a special event at Community Hub Central.

Competition organiser Jane Kashouris, the Council’s Primary Teaching and Learning Adviser, was delighted by the response and plans to run the competition again next year.

She said: “Congratulations to all the children who took part – they created wonderful stories and it was a very difficult job to pick the winners.

“The ability to think creatively and read and write opens the door to a world of adventure and discovery for children and is an essential skill for life.

“Credit also goes to the teachers and support staff in Hartlepool’s schools who work so hard to inspire young people and develop their writing skills and also to parents and carers who do so much to encourage their children’s talent.”

Niel Bushnell – who talked to the youngsters about his life as a writer - added: “It’s so important for children to have opportunities for creativity and giving them an open brief in this competition really allowed them to let their imaginations fly.”