The Parliamentary Press Gallery Writing Competition
Supported by DODS – The first name in political information and communication.
As part of the celebrations for its 200th anniversary in 2003, the Parliamentary Press Gallery inaugurated an annual writing competition for students, designed to complement citizenship lessons in schools.
Since then hundreds of students and schools throughout the country have taken part in the competition. Each year a specific theme is chosen for the two age categories to write on.
This year, as well as having the continued support of DODS Parliamentary Communications, the competition is being additionally sponsored by the Parliamentary Education Service and the Association of School and College Leaders.
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) is the only professional association and trade union in Britain to speak exclusively for secondary school and college leaders. The association has more than 14,000 members in schools and colleges across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Until January 2006, it was known as the Secondary Heads Association.
The Parliamentary Education Service works on behalf of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, providing a range of products and services to help young people engage with the work and role of Parliament.
Within the next few months – and no later than June 2010 – there will be a general election. This is the opportunity for all of us to participate in the democratic process and have our say about how we are to be governed for the next five years. Each of the political parties will publish a manifesto in which they will put forward their ideas about the best way to tackle the issues facing the country in the foreseeable future.
We are therefore asking our aspiring writers to put forward ideas for inclusion in those manifestos.
This year all three party leaders will receive a copy of the finalists’ essays for their consideration.
Make friends and meet other regional winners at the Parliamentary Press Gallery Writing Competition winners’ day in the heart of Westminster. As a regional finalist, you will be welcomed to Westminster for a day to remember.
Having arrived in London you and your guest will enjoy an evening at City Inn, Westminster. Having spent the night in this contemporary Westminster hotel, winners will make the short journey to The Palace of Westminster. The day will include meeting political journalists, ministers, Members of Parliament and touring the Palace of Westminster.
Work Experience
A small number of previous winners have benefited from work experience with DODS and the Press Gallery. This programme is for category winners who are 17 or over and interested in pursuing a career in the political arena. Whilst DODS and the Press Gallery would love to extend this opportunity to everyone, please note that places on the programme in any given year are necessarily limited and may be offered subject to the criteria specified by DODS and/or the Parliamentary Press Gallery. Details on how to apply for work experience will be provided to winners aged 17 and over, on request.
“The Press Gallery’s writing competition for schools has an impressive track record in encouraging young people to put forward their ideas for tackling some of the burning issues which confront not only members of the UK parliament but politicians the world over. Young people are the future; their ideas matter.
“Young people are interested in politics; even if they don’t always make it to the ballot box at election time. I was impressed with the quality of entries at least years’ writing competition – and even more so when I met one of the winners who came from my constituency.
“This competition is a really innovative way of engaging young people beyond Westminster in our political process and so I’m really pleased that so many people have got involved. Too often young people feel alienated and excluded from politics, and this competition is a great showcase of their wealth of talent.
“The fact that this competition has stimulated such interest is a sign of how engaged many young people want to be with political discussion and decision-making if given the chance. It´s a great way to encourage a new generation to learn more about Parliament and the political process, and I would like to wish you even greater success in the years to come.”