A CREATIVE writing competition for all school-aged children in Scotland who are looked after or have experienced care was launched yesterday.

Celcis (the Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children) has teamed up with The Scottish Book Trust, Who Cares? Scotland, the School of Education at the University of Strathclyde, and the world famous Edinburgh International Book Festival to run the competition.

Scotland’s national poet, Jackie Kay, is on board to judge the winning poem or story during a special event at the Edinburgh Book Festival in August.

The theme for the competition is “Random Moments”, which involves participants writing 500 words in English or Scots about an unexpected surprise, a moment that was a turning point, or a fork in the road, which can be transformed into an inspiring story.

The closing date for the competition is June 15.