We are thrilled to announce the winners of our creative writing competition! With the theme “New Home,” we received an incredible array of stories from talented young writers across the Highlands. Each entry was unique, creative, and heartfelt, making our judges’ job very challenging!
Last year was particularly special to us as we celebrated 150 years of being part of the Highlands community! And as part of this celebration, we were delighted to give back to our community by supporting young writers, artists, and their schools through this competition. Seeing the creative talent and passion from so many young voices is a wonderful reminder of the vibrant community we’re so proud to serve.
The Quality of Entries
The response to our competition was truly inspiring. From imaginative tales to touching reflections, every entry brought the theme to life in a unique way. The thought, effort, and passion that went into each story made it clear we were witnessing the future of storytelling. We were blown away by the writing skills and creativity on display!
It’s also worth sharing a huge thank you to all the parents, teachers, and schools who encouraged their young writers and creatives to participate. Your support helped make this competition a success, allowing us to celebrate the Highlands’ next generation of storytellers and artists.
Our Winners
After much deliberation, discussion and cups of tea, we finally selected our winners who have earned themselves a £100 book voucher (primary and secondary) and a £100 Smyths Toys voucher (nursery) – as well as £500 for their schools!
- Nursery winner: Jessie Sedgwick
- Primary school winner: Lucja Grzyb’s “New Home” story
- Secondary school winner: Hannah Robertson – “What Would Happen to Me?”
These young talents truly impressed us with their storytelling and creativity, and we’re so proud to celebrate their achievement!
We also want to share a huge well done to our runners-up in each category, who have won a £25 voucher!
Nursery:
- Hannah Grychta, Balloch Primary
- Abigail Kendrew-Jones, Balloch Primary
- Millie Murray, Little Angels Nursery
Primary:
- Emily Mair, Cradlehall Primary
- Luisa Turowski, St Josephs
- Emily MacDonald, Crown Primary
Secondary:
- Ayla Bradshaw, Portree High School
- Sophie Whitby, Fortrose Academy
- Meghan Blain, Inverness Royal Academy
Honouring Our Writers in Print: The 150th-Anniversary Edition Book
To commemorate our 150th anniversary, we’re delighted to announce that selected entries, including the winning and runner-up stories, will be published in a limited-edition 150th-anniversary book! This special collection will showcase the voices of young writers from the Highlands, celebrating the creativity within our community.
A BIG Thank You!
We want to acknowledge the outstanding quality of all the submissions. Each and every participant brought a unique voice to the competition, and we encourage you all to keep writing, dreaming, and sharing your stories with the world. Remember, storytelling is a powerful way to express yourself, and every story has the potential to make an impact.
To every school, teacher, parent, and young writer who participated, thank you! Your enthusiasm and dedication made this competition a meaningful and successful event. We hope to continue encouraging young voices and supporting their creative journeys in the future.
Stay tuned for more competitions and opportunities to showcase your talent! And to all the young writers and artists out there, keep sharing your stories – we can’t wait to see what you create next.
