A huge congratulations again to all the participants in this year’s poetry competition. The judges were so impressed by the standard of entries, the range of voice and form. We were also incredibly moved by the themes, all of which will resonate in some way with readers. As Katherine Shaw, CEO of The Advocacy Project said:
“I have been so impressed by the poems submitted to this year’s ‘Survivor Stories’ competition and want to thank all the entrants for writing so honestly and movingly. The quality has been outstanding .
There is wonderful diversity in the poems, but it’s also easy to recognise the common themes and experiences. This competition reminds us all how important creativity is in creating opportunities to hear the voices of those who may otherwise go unheard.”
We were delighted with the feedback from entrants too, many of whom expressed how the competition gave them the opportunity to share experiences that may otherwise be difficult to voice.
Follow the links below to read the three winning poems in full. Please be aware that the nature of this competition means that poems may contain themes which some readers could find distressing. We have published all entries as we received them; we are committed to diversity and inclusion in all that we do, and we value the space that poetry provides for authentic voices.
First Prize: Poor Girl, by Becky Loney
Runner Up: Against the Odds, by Neisi Rösler
Runner Up: Tornado City, by Sabrina Gordon.
We will also be sharing all poems over the next few months, so please keep an eye on our social media pages for all entries.