Most valuable prize for young poets opens for entries

The UK’s most valuable prize for young poets is once again open for entries.

The Christopher Tower Poetry Competition 2012 was launched by Christ Church at the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival. This year, students aged 16-18 are challenged to write a poem on the theme of Voyages.

Launched in 2000, the Tower Prizes reward the best three poets with £3,000, £1,000 and £500 respectively. The students’ schools and colleges will also receive cash prizes.

The judging panel this year comprises poets Christopher Reid, Don Paterson and Peter McDonald. Peter McDonald, Christopher Tower Student and Tutor in Poetry in English at Christ Church, said: ‘Poetry’s future depends, in part, on the kind of encouragement we can offer our young poets. The winners of the Tower prizes all show how good young writers can rise to the challenges which this kind of competition sets.'

Previous prizewinners such as Caroline Bird, Helen Mort (who read at the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival), Richard O’Brian, Charlotte Runcie, Anna Lewis and Annie Katchinska have since gained further acclaim in the world of publishing, writing and poetry.

The Tower Prize closing date for entries is Friday 2 March 2012.