THE Causley Trust has launched its 2024 Young People’s Poetry Competition.  

Celebrating the work of Cornish poet, Charles Causley, the competition aims to encourage and enable young writers to have a go at writing poetry themselves.  

This year’s theme centres around the topic of ‘magic’ and hopes to see children get creative, channelling their inner Causley.

The Launceston poet wrote prolifically for adults and for young people and much of his inspiration came from folklore and myths, writing about elves, changelings, wizards, ghosts, mermaids, incantations and curses. 

Head judge of this year’s competition is Rachel Piercey. Rachel is an award-winning poet and children’s author and in 2023, took residency in Cyprus Well, the former home of Charles Causley, as part of the trust’s ‘poet-in-residence' programme.  

The competition is open to all young people aged between five and 18-years-old who live anywhere in the UK and is free to enter. As well as Rachel, poems will be judged by  a panel of poetry judges with prizes awarded for first, second, third, and ‘Highly Commended’ places in each category. This year there will also be an honourable mention for a young poet based in Cornwall.  

Entries close on April 1, 2024. More information about the competition, rules and how to enter can be found here.