Young Northern Writers’ Awards
Our Young Writers’ Awards are presented as part of the Northern Writers’ Awards.
They recognise and support young writers based in the North of England.
Young Northern Writers' Awards
This award is open to young writers aged 11-18 in the North of England. Young writers can submit creative work in any form including prose, poetry, scriptwriting, blogging, songwriting and rap.
There are two age categories, 11-14 and 15-18. Entrants must be 18 years or under when the awards close. The winner in each category will receive prize money of £150. Up to two writers may also be highly commended across the age categories.
Matthew Hale Award
This award is open to young writers who show promise but have had limited opportunities to pursue their talent. This could be due to a number of factors, including physical or mental ill-health, family circumstances, financial circumstances, lack of access to cultural opportunities or any other reasons.
This award is for a young person aged 11-18 based in the North of England. Entrants must be 18 years or under when the awards close. Young writers can submit creative work in any form including prose, poetry, scriptwriting, blogging, songwriting and rap.
There is one award winner each year. The award consists of a package of support created by New Writing North and is worth £500. The package will be tailored to the specific interests and needs of the winner, but could include anything from one-on-one mentoring with a professional writer, enrolment on a course, books, theatre tickets or a pass to a literature festival.
This award is judged by the family of Matthew Hale and New Writing North.
Eva Ibbotson Award
This award is open to young writers aged 11-15 who are writing in English as a second language.
This award is for a young person aged 11-15 based in the North of England. Entrants must be 15 years or under when the awards close. Young writers can submit creative work in any form including prose, poetry, scriptwriting, blogging, songwriting and rap.
There is one award winner each year. The award consists of a package of support created by New Writing North and is worth £500. The package will be tailored to the specific interests and needs of the winner, but could include anything from one-on-one mentoring with a professional writer, enrolment on a course, books, theatre tickets or a pass to a literature festival. The prize also includes a collection of Pan Macmillan books to the value of £200 to the winning pupil’s school library and a set of Eva’s books to the winner (and any runners up).
This award is judged by the family of Eva Ibbotson and New Writing North.
2025 Winners
Anya Adnan
Young Northern Writer Award
(11-14)
Winner
Nathan Graham
Young Northern Writer Award
(15-18)
Winner
Juneau Atkinson
Matthew Hale Award
Winner
Hidayate
Eva Ibbotson Award
Winner
Chidimma Nnadi
Young Northern Writer Award
(11-14)
Highly Commended
Jessie Morris
Young Northern Writer Award
(15-18)
Highly Commended
