World Book Day: Young Writers Competition

Writing is an incredible life-long skill for children to have. By allowing children to express themselves through writing, their imaginations and creativity are sparked.

The competition is split into two age categories: 7-9 and 10-15. Using the templates (below), children are invited to submit a title and up to 500 words on the following themes:

Ages 7-9 – ‘I was flying my kite at Dunstable Downs when suddenly...’

Ages 10-15 – 'I was walking through the woods at Dunstable Downs when...'

Each age category will be judged separately by a team of staff and volunteers, who will be looking for characterisation, plot, originality, language and enjoyment.

How to enter

To enter, please download a template below, or pick one up from the Chilterns Gateway Centre. 

Once your story is complete, we ask parents or guardians to submit their child’s story in the following ways:

• Post or drop off a paper copy of your entry to: 'National Trust: World Book Day Writing Competition', Chiltern Gateway Centre, Whipsnade Road, Dunstable, LU6 2GY.
• Email your scanned entry, titled 'National Trust: World Book Day Writing Competition' in the subject line to dunstabledowns@nationaltrust.org.uk

Before midnight on 6 March 2025. Please include your child’s full name, age, and email address/phone number.

Prize

The winner from each age category will have their stories published on our social media and website. They will also receive a notepad and pen from our shop and any book of their choice from our second-hand bookshop.

Winners will be announced and contacted on the week beginning 10 March 2025.

Resources

You and your child’s privacy are important to us. We will securely process the personal data you provide as part of your competition entry to capture parental/legal guardian consent and manage the participation in the World Book Day Writing Competition.  Further details are included in the terms and conditions and for more information on how we look after your data please see our privacy policy: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/privacypolicy 

“We” / “us” means the National Trust, charity number 205846, and National Trust (Enterprises) Limited. 

Full Ts&Cs can be found here.

Templates can be downloaded for 7-9s here, and for 10-15s here, or picked up from the Chilterns Gateway Centre at Dunstable Downs.

Good luck - we look forward to receiving your entries!