Paws for Pets Poetry Competition

We're really excited to team up with local poet, Jamie Thrasivoulou, to run a poetry competition for young people aged 7-18. Jamie is an award-winning writer, poet, and educator from Derby. In 2019 he won the Saboteur award for Best Spoken Word performer in the UK. He's the official poet for Derby County Football Club. His work has been commissioned by the BBC, National Poetry Day, and the Heritage Lottery amongst others. Jamie is an associate lecturer in Creative and Professional Writing at Derby University.

THE COMPETITION
We are looking for aspiring young poets to write an original poem, in any style, based on the 5 Welfare Needs of Pets (more about this in the competition guide).

There are three age categories (7-11, 12-16, 17-18) and the competition is open to young people in the Derbyshire area.

The competition will run until 5pm on Friday 30th June.

THE PRIZES
We've got some fantastic prizes for each category winner and runner-up, and a school/youth group/organisation/club in the Derbyshire area that the young person attends.

Winners:
Each category winner will have their poem read by Jamie in a video shared on our social media and website. They will also receive a signed and framed print of Jamie's iconic poem 'We are Derby', a framed print of their own poem, an RSPCA Derby goody bag and certificate, a tour of our centre (with up to 5 other young people and 1 adult from their nominated organisation), and a visit from the RSPCA Derby team to their nominated organisation to talk about our work and how we help local animals.

Runners-up:
Each category runner-up will receive a framed print of their own poem, an RSPCA Derby goody bag and certificate, and a tour of our centre (with up to 5 other young people and 1 adult from their nominated organisation).

THE PROCESS
Appropriate parental permission is required for all young people entering this competition. Individual young poets can be signed up by an adult using the link below. If you would like to sign a group of children up, for example a school class or a youth group, please put the name of the class/year or youth group on the sign-up form and submit all poems to us.

Once signed up, you can download our poetry competition guide with all the details you need to take part.

Jamie will be helping us select the winners and runners-up. These will be announced on social media to celebrate our aspiring young poets and promote animal welfare.

ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED