Here in Stratford-on-Avon we are expecting the arrival of the first group of Syrian refugee families at the end of November. To celebrate this exciting event, our Amnesty group is running a prize competition for secondary school students for a piece of writing on any aspect of the refugee experience called 'In Search of Safety'. Students may write factual or imaginative pieces, in prose or verse. The Stratford Herald is supporting the competition and will publish the winning entries on its website.

The rules for the competition are as follows:

• The competition will be for three age groups: 11-13, 14-16, 17-18
• Prizes of £40 and £20 will be awarded in each age group
• Entries may be in prose or verse, factual or imaginative
• Entries may not exceed 1,000 words. Shorter entries will not be penalised
• Entries may be word processed or handwritten
• Entries must have a cover sheet, giving name, age and school
• The deadline for entries to be received by us is 8th December
• Winning entries will be published on the Stratford Herald website
• Entries should be sent to: Dr Penny Freedman, 52 Shottery Village, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 9HD or emailed to pennyf@dircon.co.uk. Alternatively we can collect entries from Reception at schools
• Entries must be the students' own, unaided work
• Each entrant may submit only one entry
• the decisions of the judges are final

Questions to: pennyf@dircon.co.uk

We want this to make an important contribution to the spirit in which the families are welcomed in Stratford and we do hope that you, or members of your family will support the competition