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Waltham Forest Poetry Competition

Open to everyone (UK and international) and there also separate prizes for people who live, work or study in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, and a Young Poets (under 18) section. The theme is: Where I’m From.

Judge Graham Clifford is a published poet and head teacher based in Waltham Forest. His latest collection is called Well, published by Against the Grain. 

Any poem that references a location in Waltham Forest has a chance of appearing in the poetry anthology Where I’m From alongside the winners and commended poems. 

There will be an awards ceremony on Thursday 14 November where all winners and commended poets will be invited to come and read their works.

Main prize: 1st £300, 2nd £200, 3rd £100. The overall winner will also be offered the choice of Poetry Society Membership (if they are not a Member already) or feedback on their poems via The Poetry Society’s Poetry Prescription/Poetry Surgery service.   

Local prize: 1st £50, 2nd £30, and 3rd £20. The top 3 will also be offered a paid reading opportunity in the London Borough of Waltham Forest.

Young Poet Competition (under 18): No entry fee. Send up to 6 poems. Poets who live or study in Waltham Forest will automatically be included in the Local prize. Prizes: 1st £50, 2nd £30, 3rd £20. Local prize: 1st £50, 2nd £30, and 3rd £20. The top three in the Local Prize will also receive Waterstones book tokens.