Shortlists announced for Voices 2025!

The judges have announced the four shortlists for this year’s Voices Writing Competion for children in care and care leavers.

  • 22 May 2025

The judges have announced the shortlists for this year’s Voices writing competition for care experienced children and young people.

This is the ninth year of the Voices Creative Writing Competition, a platform that showcases the creativity and talent of care-experienced children and young people. The awards ceremony in London on 30 May will celebrate the 24 shortlisted finalists, who have submitted their entries – including poems, stories and raps – on the theme of ‘My Voice’. The entries have been judged by a panel of acclaimed children’s authors, writers and other leading experts, many of whom have personal experience of the care system.

Click through to read the shortlisted entries

Primary shortlist

Lower secondary shortlist

Upper secondary shortlist

Care leavers shortlist