The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021 - Theme Community in the Commonwealth

Oct 19, 2026

Uploaded by Finn

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021 invites eligible school-aged participants to submit creative writing in English on the theme “Community in the Commonwealth.” The material outlines how COVID-19 has affected Commonwealth citizens and how adversity reveals stories of growth, community, and hope. It specifies entry deadlines, award categories for Senior and Junior entrants, selection travel to London for events and an awards ceremony, plus starter activities and writing prompts to plan stories and plot points.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

About the competition

Theme: Community in the Commonwealth

Entry deadline and awards

Categories

Senior category

Junior category

Starter activities

Give me five!

Spark a story

Guidelines

Share your ideas, celebrate your story and write for a better world ABOUT The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools, established in 1883. With thousands of young people taking part every year, it is an important way to recognise achievement, elevate youth voices and develop key skills through creative writing. THEME COMMUNITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH With the global spread of COVID-19, we’ve seen the lives of many Commonwealth citizens affected. However through adversity, societies came together and stories of growth, community and hope continue to emerge. ENTER BY 30 JUNE 2021 AWARDS One winner and runner-up will be chosen from each category. Winners and runners-up will be brought to London fora week of educational and cultural events, culminating ina special Awards Ceremony. A number of Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards will be given in both the Senior and Junior categories, rewarding excellence in writing. All successful entries will receive a Certificate of Participation. Principal Sponsor 2021 The Commonwealth is a voluntary network of 54 countries, based on a shared English language and the key values of democracy, equality, tolerance, human rights and the rule of law. CATEGORIES SENIOR CATEGORY Born between 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2007 (14-18 years of age) 1. Discuss the following: “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” – Coretta Scott King 2. Keeping connected through COVID-19 3. It’s been 30 years since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, what does the world look like 4. Imagine you are the Head of a Commonwealth nation heavily affected by COVID-19 and giving a national address at the end of the pandemic. What would you say to your community? JUNIOR CATEGORY Born on or after 1 July 2007 (under 14 years of age) 1. The year is 2050 and you’ve been asked to write about the coronavirus pandemic for a museum. What story would you tell? 2. Tell a story of how you, or someone you know, helped others during the pandemic. 3. ‘We will be with our friends again. We will be with our families again. We will meet again’ – HM Queen Elizabeth II After the pandemic, you are seeing a friend for the first time. What new hobbies would you share with them? 4. What did you miss most during the pandemic? STARTER ACTIVITIES GIVE ME FIVE! To help children plan stories and identify key plot points 1. Start with a closed hand. Pick a story the child knows well and explain it to them in 5 key points, open one finger each time you start a new point. 2. Help the child plan their story: What will happen? Who is in the story? How will it end? 3. Ask them to share their own story outline using the same method you did. Each time they start a new point, raise a finger. 4. Encourage them to use words like‘First..’, ‘Then..’ and ‘Finally...’to create a clear structure. GUIDELINES • Nationals and residents of all Commonwealth countries and territories aged 18 and under are eligible to enter the competition, including entrants from Zimbabwe. • All entries must be written in English • Entries are accepted from residents of non-Commonwealth countries who submit through their local RCS branch. • Entrants can be presented in any form/ method of creative writing. Pictures/ Illustrations are particularly encouraged in the Junior Category. • Full terms and conditions are available at [https://www. royalcwsociety.org/](https://www. royalcwsociety.org/)[ ](https://www. royalcwsociety.org/)[enterthecompetition.](enterthecompetition.) [competitions@royalcwsociety.org](competitions@royalcwsociety.org) [www. royalcwsociety.org/enterthecompetition](www. royalcwsociety.org/enterthecompetition) Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @RoyalCWSociety SPARK A STORY To encourage imagination and consider different perspectives 1. Ask the child to thi

FAQs

How are the Senior and Junior categories defined?

The Senior category is for those born between 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2007 (ages 14–18). The Junior category is for those born on or after 1 July 2007 (under 14 years of age).

What kind of writing is encouraged and how can entrants structure their stories?

Entrants can submit in any form or method of creative writing, with pictures/illustrations especially encouraged in the Junior category. Starter activities suggest planning key plot points using a finger-based outline and using clear transitions such as “First… Then… Finally…”.

Oct 19, 2026

Uploaded by Finn