‘Find Your Words’

‘Find Your Words’

‘Find Your Words’ – a competition organised by mental health charity for young people in Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot.  

The Dylan Thomas Centre has teamed up with mental health and social change charity Platfform to launch ‘Find your Words’, a competition for 13-16 year olds in Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot.

Young people can take part in the competition by submitting a poem based on the theme of ‘reflections on 2020’. Entries will open Monday 4th January at 7am and close on Sunday 14th February at 11:59pm.

The competition will be judged by renowned local poet Natalie Ann Holborow, Natalie Coombs from Platfform, and Jo Furber, Literature Officer for Swansea Council.

Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd places and include a £100, £50 and £25 voucher respectively, a wellbeing pack, a video creation of their poem, and their poem will be published in the South Wales Evening Post.

Natalie Coombs, Young People’s Coach at Platfform 4YP Swansea Bay said:

“2020 was a tough year to be a teenager. The effects of lockdowns on young people’s education, mental health and overall wellbeing have been overwhelming and often difficult for them to make sense of. I hope that ‘Find Your Words’ gives young people the chance to personally reflect on how 2020 impacted them and to get their feelings out of their heads and onto paper.

It’s also a great opportunity to connect with other young people through shared experiences, which I hope will encourage conversations about young people’s mental health across Swansea Bay!”

We’re really excited to read all the entries!

The competition terms and conditions are as follows:

  • Participants must be aged 13-16 and living in Swansea, Neath or Port Talbot
  • Entries can be made in English or Welsh and need to be emailed to youngpeople@platfform.org
  • Entries must be submitted between Monday 4th January at 7am and close on Sunday 14th February at 11:59pm
  • Any style of poetry is welcome
  • Entries must not exceed the lengths of an A4 page.

Find out more about Platfform 4YP Swansea Bay here: https://platfform.org/project/4yp-swansea-bay

This post is also available in: Welsh