The competition is organized by the Poetry Society. Young poets can submit poems on any theme, of any length and of any style.

Poems must be written in English. Poems must be the original work of the author and cannot have been published anywhere.

Last year writers from 109 different countries entered the competition from as far afield as South Africa, China, Ethiopia and Georgia, as well as the four corners of the UK.

The top 15 winners will have their poems printed in the winners’ print anthology, 25,000 copies of which are distributed to school, libraries and poetry enthusiasts.

The top 15 winners will be invited to attend a life-changing residential writing course at one of the prestigious Arvon Centres, or receive alternative sustained mentoring from a professional poet.

The 85 commended poets will have their work published in an online anthology and their names in the print anthology.