ENTRIES are now being taken for the 12th Christopher Salmon poetry competition.

Launched by The Christopher Salmon Foundation in partnership with Wirral Poetry Festival and Wirral Libraries, it is open to budding poets aged 19 years and under, living or being educated in Wirral.

Every year, under 19s to put pen to paper and submit their own poetry on a different topic.

The theme is 'time' and the closing date is Friday, April 1.

Entry is free and a £100 prize will be awarded to the winner in each of five age categories.

For full details visit https://wirralpoetryfestival.org.uk/christophersalmon/

The competition began in 2010 as a tribute to Calday Grammar School student Christopher who lost his life to a rare streptococcal infection in February 2009 aged just 15.

After he passed away, his parents discovered a sheaf of poems he had written and hidden away in his room.

This gave them the idea to launch a poetry competition in his name in order to encourage other young people to express themselves, with confidence, through the medium of poetry.

The Foundation has so far raised more than £66,000 in Christopher's memory.

Julie and Rich Salmon, Chris’ parents and founders of The Chris Salmon Foundation, said: "We are absolutely delighted that the competition has grown so much in popularity, and it is wonderful to be able to do something positive and creative in Christopher’s memory which captures the imagination of so many talented young people.

"We would like to thank everyone for their support over the last 12 years in helping us not only keep Christopher's memory alive but for making this competition such an outstanding success."

Poetry entries for the 2022 competition can be submitted online, by email or by hard copy. All online or email applications must be in text format (such as in Microsoft Word).

Online by visiting Wirral Poetry Festival

Emailing chrissalmonpoetry@wirral.gov.uk

Sending paper entries to:

FAO Diane Mitchell,

Strategic Librarian (Birkenhead Area), Birkenhead Central Library

Borough Road

Birkenhead

CH41 2XB

The closing date for the receipt of poetry competition entries is 11.59pm on Friday, April 1, 2022.

Where the entrant is under 18 years of age, the parent/guardian’s consent must be given.