Share Your Story. Inspire Hope. Start Conversations.
At the Ajuda Foundation, we believe words have the power to heal, connect and create change. Our Creative Writing Competition invites writers from all backgrounds to explore the theme of Mental Health and Wellbeing through storytelling, memoir or poetry.
Whether your work is deeply personal, entirely fictional, hopeful, challenging or reflective, we want to hear YOUR voice.
This competition is open to everyone and is designed to encourage honest conversations around mental health, creativity and human experience. Every entry also helps support the Ajuda Foundation community projects and wellbeing initiatives.
Finalists will also be published in an anthology, the proceeds from which will contribute to our community projects.
We created the Ajuda Foundation Creative Writing Competition to encourage people to explore their mental health and wellbeing through storytelling. Writing can help us step back from difficult experiences, shape them into something manageable, and sometimes even regain a sense of control over them. We wanted to create a space where every voice mattered, whether from an experienced writer or someone putting pen to paper for the very first time. The pen is indeed mightier, and there‘s bravery in writing about our experiences.
Creative Writing Competition Rules and Guidance
Eligibility:
The Competition is open to ANYONE.
Theme:
All entries must explore the theme of Mental Health and Wellbeing. This theme can be interpreted in any way, via fiction (short stories), autobiographical memoirs, or poetry.
Deadline:
All entries MUST be received by 31st August 2026. Late entries will not be considered, and your entry fee will NOT be refunded.
Entry Categories:
- Short stories: Maximum of 2,000 words.
- Autobiographical Memoirs: Maximum of 2,000 words.
- Poetry: Maximum of 75 lines.
Format Requirements:
- All entries must be submitted in English using Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format.
- Your name or any other identifying information must not appear anywhere on your submission, so it is vital that you include the title of your entry in your PayPal transaction (see below).
- Please use only ONE space after full stops.
Entry Fee:
- £10 per entry. All money raised contributes to our community projects.
- Payment must be made via PayPal to @AjudaFoundationUK. If you are an international entrant not in the UK, please ensure the payment currency is set to GBP.
- Your entry will be forwarded to the judges when we have received your PayPal notification.
When making the payment, use the transaction reference “Ajuda Foundation Creative Writing Competition” and include the title of your entry in the notes section. If you do not do this, we will not be able to easily identify your submission, and your entry may be disqualified.
Judging Criteria:
- All entries will be judged based on how well they engage with the theme of mental health and wellbeing.
- The judges’ decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Submission Instructions:
- Email your entry to foundation@ajuda.org.uk
- In the subject line of your email, include @Ajuda Foundation Creative Writing Competition – [Title of Your Piece]
- Please attach your entry as a Word document.
- In the body of your email include your full name and contact details, and a screenshot of your PayPal transaction receipt.
- Stories must be previously unpublished either in print or on any website (including blogs and social networking sites).
- All work submitted must be the entrant’s own original writing. If you use any AI tool either to plan or create your story, you should declare it.
Prizes:
1st Prize: £100
2nd Prize: £50
3rd Prize: £25
Finalists will also be published in an anthology, the proceeds from which will contribute to our community projects. Finalists and winners will be notified by email, and will be announced on the Ajuda Foundation website and social media channels.
Rights and Permissions:
By entering, you grant the Ajuda Foundation the permission to publish your work on their website and in any promotional material related to the competition, with full attribution to the author.
Copyright of the work remains with the author. All finalists will be given the option to publish their work in The Ajuda Foundation Creative Writing Prize Anthology, the proceeds from which will contribute to our community projects.
Privacy:
All personal information collected will be used solely for the purpose of this competition, and the anthology, and will not be shared with third parties.
Our Judges
Paul Jenkins is the author of A Cure for Love, a collection of short stories published by Typewriter Press. Specialising in authentic personal narratives, Jenkins delves into the darker areas of life. He brings a deep understanding of storytelling to his work, blending memorable characters with compelling narratives.
Ruth Morgan writes short stories and serials, contributing regularly to national magazines. She explores the complexities of human nature through speculative fiction, and her novel, Alien Rain, published by Firefly Press is an engaging science fiction novel full of otherworldly, ethereal intrigue.
Ready to Enter?
We look forward to reading your work and celebrating the power of creativity, storytelling and mental wellbeing.
Submit Your Entry Today:
Submit your Word document to: foundation@ajuda.org.uk
Don’t forget to make your payment using PayPal, and attach a screenshot of the payment to your submission email.
Peeping Through Cracks in Stone - A Creative Anthology
Peeping Through the Cracks in Stone brings together the stories, poens and memoirs from all 16 finalists in the 2025 Creative Writing Competition. From a young girl at a bus stop on the cusp of a descent into anxiety to the otherwordly clarity a flood brings to two sisters, these works offer fresh perspective on life’s struggles and triumphs.
Honest and deeply human, this anthology encourages empathy and reminds us of the power of writing to heal, connect and illuminate the experiences of others.
For your chance to be in this year’s anthology, just tap the button below to pay your entrance fee and submit your Word document to: foundation@ajuda.org.uk
Thought provoking stories of mental health
FAQs
Are multiple entries allowed?
You may as enter as many times as you like as long as you have a transaction reference from your PayPal payment covering the entry fee for all entries.
Is there a first, second and third place for each category or 3 prizes in total?
There are 3 prizes in total.
How are the entries judged?
All entries will be judged according to criteria covering all categories equally, with particular attention given to how well the piece of writing engages with the theme of mental health and wellbeing. The judges will also be looking for engaging, expressive and well-crafted language in all categories.
Can I submit the same piece to multiple competitions?
Yes, but make sure you withdraw it from other competitions if it wins this one, or withdraw from this competition if your piece wins elsewhere.
Will I get feedback on my entry?
No. We are not able to offer that yet – but this might be something we can develop.