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Speak Up North

Our new competition, Speak Up North, inspires young people to unleash their inner storyteller!

Register your school's interest for next academic year

Introducing Speak Up North, our creative storytelling competition

As an education charity, we are committed to putting young people at the centre of what we do, amplifying their voices, and celebrating their achievements. 

The competition aims to make storytelling fun and accessible for all young people, so they are encouraged to share their creativity, their stories, and what matters most to them through poetry and short stories (including spoken word or music). Our first theme is all about belonging – and we’re inviting all schools and education centres across Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and Merseyside to encourage pupils to take part.

The deadline for your school to participate in this year's Speak Up North has now passed. Winners will be announced towards the end of March and work exhibited in a local Manchester venue in late April/May.

A young female tutor with dark hair, tied in a bun, wearing a striped t-shirt, is standing talking to two secondary-aged female pupils who are sat at a desk. The backs of the pupils' heads are facing the camera. Both pupils have long dark hair.

Take part next year

Get ahead and register your schools interest for Speak Up North 2025. We'll be in touch early in the 2024/25 academic year with competition details and resources so you can embed it into your curriculum.