Rules and Resources
Competition 1:
The Portico Sadie Massey Awards Reading and Writing Competitions
Open Monday 14 October 2024!
Terms and Conditions
· * Two categories: Reading Award (Book Review), Writing Award (Short Story)
· * Open to all 7 – 18-year-olds (Key Stages 2 – 5)
· * Free to enter (a person may enter both the reading and writing competition but only one entry in each)
· Closing date: Midnight, 21st March 2025
· * Entries are judged on creativity and individuality and not spelling or grammar
· * The entry must be an original piece of work and written by one entrant
· * Stories may be in prose or verse and set in the past, present or future
· * Any images will not be judged as part of the submission
· * AI must not be used
· * Winners and Highly Commended are awarded in each Key Stage
· * The Presentation event is held in June 2025 in Manchester
Formatting
· * All entries must be written in English as they will be judged in English
· * No identifying names or school on the entry as entries are judged anonymously
· * All stories must be either:
a) Typed and submitted via the PSMA website which includes a submission form which must be filled out in full.
b) Typed or handwritten (in blue or black ink and legible) and either emailed with entry form to psma@theportico.org.uk or posted to The PSMA Competition, The Portico Library, 25 Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3HY
c) Schools may enter a class using the online school entry spreadsheet and either post entries or send with attached school entry spreadsheet to psma@theportico.org.uk
NB Entries must be numbered to correspond to numbers on spreadsheet
Word count:
· Writing Competition:
Key Stage 2 – maximum 800 words
Key Stage 3 - maximum 1000 words
Key Stage 4 – maximum 1000 words
Key Stage 5 – maximum 1,500 words
· Reading Competition
Key Stage 2 – maximum 500 words
Key Stage 3 – 5 - maximum 1000 words
Other information
· * The title is not included in the word count
· * Due to limited funds, prizes may only be issued within the UK though certificates can be downloaded from the website
· * Winning and highly commended entries will be published on the PSMA website
· * Copyright remains with the author, but the author allows permission for the PSMA to use the short story or book review and credit the author’s name on the Portico Library and PSMA social media, library material and website
Please note
· * In the case of an unprecedented number of entries, first round readings will be made by a panel of appointed readers
· * The judges’ decision is final
· * The judges and organisers will not enter into any correspondence concerning the competition results
Any further questions: psma@theportico.org.uk
Competition 2:
The Art of the Book Award
Open to Pupil Referral Units and Schools and Departments with Special Educational Needs
Open Monday, 1 November 2024, closing date: midnight, Friday 14 February, 2025
Create a handmade book that contains a story; it can be written, drawn, or a combination of artwork and text. Originality and creativity, and evidence of personal engagement are key elements and entries can come from individuals or groups of up to four.
Everyone who enters wins a prize
More details: psma@theportico.org.uk
The information you share with us will not go any further. We will use it to process the entries and collect data that can help us promote the awards to new audiences. All the information will be held in accordance with data protection guidelines.
Tips, prompts and more
Top Tips for Young Writers by Jessica Andrews
Take a look at some short-story prompts for teens.
Tips on writing a book review
Tips on growing the seed of your story from Children’s author, Clare Povey
Why not use these images to get those creative ideas flowing?
Or check out these fantastic resources…
The Portico is an amazing historic library in the middle of Manchester. Many significant people from the Industrial era were associates of the Library, like John Dalton and Elizabeth Gaskell.
Writing winner Isabel viewing a restored Portico Library book, Whispers from Fairyland, as part of her prize.
Photography by Lucy Cartwright
We have a special collection of historic books that cover all kinds of interesting topics, which means there’s something for everyone, whether you’re interested in History, Science or Art, Folklore, Local History in the North West of England, or Children’s books.. We also have early editions of classic 19th century novels, like Frankenstein, Great Expectations and Jane Eyre, as well as books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Jane Austen and Robert Louis Stevenson. Take a look on our free online catalogue.
Writing Exercises Archive | First Story
Reading resources from Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre
Black Poets Matter by Poetry By Heart
Reading Map from Read Manchester and Transport for Greater Manchester
Time Tunnellers Historical Fiction Books & Writing
A Guide to Publishing by Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and hachette UK
Time Travellers and the Crystal Dome
Travel back in time to meet some of the most amazing people who used The Portico Library! A famous writer, a two-time prime minister, a world renowned scientist and a man obsessed with collecting words each feature in their own exciting adventure, accompanied by a 21st century, time travelling kid!
Previous winners of The Portico Sadie Massey Awards had their entries published in this book, alongside the stories based on some of Manchester's local heroes and heroines!
Time Travellers and the Crystal Dome is produced by Seven Arches Publishing. The Portico Library is thrilled to feature in their Time Travellers series, which explores historical subjects through exciting stories for young people.
To purchase your copy click here.