Key dates

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12th April Competition start

12th June Deadline for entries

End June Winners announced

10th July Prize winners ceremony at Tower Hamlets Local History Library 1-3 pm

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Details

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Write a poem that explores the story of the Matchgirls! You could think about conditions in the factory, the feelings of the workers before, during or after the strike or the impact of the Strike on people today. You could write it from the point of view of a matchgirl or from another perspective. Let your imagination run wild!

The winning entries will receive a book voucher, be featured on The Matchgirls Memorial website and prize winners will be given the opportunity to read out their poems at the official prize giving at Tower Hamlets Archives and Local History Centre at Bancroft Road

 

Deadline

12th June 2026

Entry Categories Years 4, 5 and 6

 

Rules 

• Poems should be no more than 20 lines

• Child name, school year, and school name should be included with each entry

• One entry per child

• Poems can be emailed to sparkcatchers@gmail.com

• For handwritten entries, accompanying artwork is encouraged but the entry will be judged on merit of the poem alone

 

Judges

Anna Robinson

Fawzia Murdali Kane

 

Winners

There will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes awarded to each year group

 

Prizes

1st Prize in each category:

• £30 book voucher

• Poem will feature on The Matchgirls Memorial website

• Opportunity to read the winning entries at Tower Hamlets Archives

 

2nd Prize in each category:

• £20 book voucher

• Poem will feature on The Matchgirls Memorial website

• Opportunity to read the winning entries at Tower Hamlets Archives

 

3rd Prize in each category:

• £10 book voucher

• Poem will feature on The Matchgirls Memorial website

• Opportunity to read the winning entries at Tower Hamlets Archives

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