National Stationery Week, the annual campaign to celebrate stationery and encourage handwriting, running from April 20th-26th, is asking children to put pen to paper for a nationwide writing competition.

Teachers who get their pupils involved with the initiative for schools could win a huge stationery bundle for both the winning child and their classmates, with prizes coming from all seven National Stationery Week sponsors – Cross Pens, Derwent, Manuscript, Marple Stationery Supplies, Moleskine, Staples and uni-ball - and its two partners, Premier Stationery and VENT for Change.

Children need to write a creative piece, no longer than 300 words, around the theme of Pens on an adventure and submit them to the National Stationery Week team by 1st April 2020.

Fifty entries from across the UK will then be shortlisted for display at the London Stationery Show, before a single winner and four runners up are chosen to scoop a stationery hamper and the creative writing crown. 

There will be a selection of four judges involved in the campaign, each with their own speciality in handwriting, creativity and storytelling.

Rachel Smallman, Owner of National Stationery Week said, “creative writing is a vital part of a child’s growth and we want National Stationery Week to be an inspiration to them.

“Each year, we run a children’s writing competition, but this year’s prize is better than ever before with a great theme that will encourage creativity, fun and – of course – hand writing.

“The team and I can’t wait to read the pupils’ best efforts, showing off their creative imaginations, which are always a joy to see in the written form.”

Schools wishing to get involved with the competition can sign-up at www.nationalstationeryweek.com/getinvolved/schools/ where they can also make the most of extra free competition tools such as a story starter and printable stickers.