Poetry Competition 2025
Calling local poets of all ages!
To celebrate National Poetry Day 2025, enter our community poetry competition on the theme of ‘play’.
This project is funded by the Haydon Wick Parish Council Community Grants Scheme so we are particularly interested in poetry from people who live and/or work in Haydon Wick, but we welcome submissions from anyone living in Swindon.
Submit your poem (max. 20 lines) using the online form below.
Entries will be judged by Cllr Fay Howard, Mayor of Swindon, and Rebecca Rocker - a slam-winning spoken word artist and the Mayor’s poet, who also happens to live in Haydon Wick.
Winning poets will receive a £30 prize voucher, plus publication in the Haydon Wick Living Magazine and a live reading at our prize-giving event on Friday 14th November.
Want to get involved? Double-check the guidelines and send us your poem!
Theme
The theme is ‘play’. Whether its wordplay, music, video games, childhood memories, sporting events, theatrical stages or playful banter - show us what ‘play’ means to you. The theme is just a suggestion - you could be extra playful and subvert it, if you like.
Categories
You can enter your poem into one of three age categories:
1. Kids (8-12)
2. Teens (13-19)
3. Big kids (20+)
Deadline
Friday 31st October at 12pm.
Submission Guidelines
1. One poem, no longer than 20 lines, on the theme of ‘play’.
2. Use the online form to send us your details and your poem.
3. Upload your poem as a PDF or Word document, with 12pt. formatting.
4. All entrants are invited to read their poem on the open-mic at the prize event (or hear the host read it, if preferred).
5. Each winner receives a £30 prize voucher and publication in the Haydon Wick Living Magazine.
6. Winners will be announced at the prize event and online.
Prize Event
Friday 14th November, 7.30pm, Haydon Wick Parish Council offices, SN25 1QQ.
