Price
- £3.00
Length
- 60
Presented By
- LITFEST
VENUE: Atkinsons Upper Hall
Competition with prizes for the best poems.
This prize is named in memory of the distinguished Scottish feminist poet Elizabeth Burns who lived in Lancaster.
‘For this year’s poetry competition, we’re looking for poems of up to 30 lines from children in Lancaster area schools in three age groups: 4-7, 8–11 and 12–18. Your poem should be about one of the following themes: social justice, peace, diverse, forgotten or disputed histories, or the threat to nature. There will be Book Token prizes for the best poems and a workshop with a poet for the overall winner’s school! We can’t wait to read your poems – good luck!’
The judges (Cherelle Findley, Geraldine Onek, & Alan Rice)
The deadline is midnight on 13 February 2026. Winners will be announced at this Litfest 2026 event and be invited to read their poems and receive their prizes.
HOW TO ENTER:
Entries will be gathered by your school teacher and should be submitted as a Word document to info@litfest.org or by post as a print-out to 60 Windermere Road, Lancaster LA1 3EZ.
If submitting independently via your parent or guardian, please always state your age and use the subject heading/mark envelope: ‘Elizabeth Burns Memorial Children’s Poetry Prize’.
AGES: 4-18yrs
Photo credits: Afamefuna – Ebo Boy © Lela Harris (Courtesy of The Judges’ Lodgings Museum, Lancashire County Council)
