Mansfield’s next generation of creative writers honoured during WrittenByMe awards ceremony

The event was created by the Mansfield Learning Partnership and Mansfield 2020 to promote literacy among young people.

Held at the Mansfield Library, more than 100 people came to see local students aged between 11 and 18 have excerpts from their stories read, and the winners of the competition announced.

The finalists had to go through heats at their school before they reached the final, and more than 20 students from All Saint’s RC School, The Brunts Academy, Garibaldi College, The Manor Academy, Meden School and Vision West Nottinghamshire College attended the event.

All the students received a goodie bag, donated by Mansfield BID, and a certificate. While the category winners also received a trophy and a £400 donation towards a literacy project for their school.

Thomas Legandre, Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Nottingham, who judged the competition said: “The event has been fantastic and I’ve been really impressed by the creativity and imagination of the young people.

“It’s great to have something like the Mansfield Learning Partnership, bringing together all the schools to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Beth Shaw, whio is from Meden School and won the Year 12-13 Category, said: “This has just been the best! I’ve always written stories but to have them judged and for someone to say that they are good it a really great feeling.

“It’s given me the confidence to keep writing and I would definitely recommend that other people enter next year.”