Pupils rewarded for putting pen to paper

Cosgrove Care — the Giffnock-based charity for people with learning disabilities and mental health problems — ran its first short story competition, inviting local school kids to submit 500-word stories on the topic of special powers.

The competition — split into categories for primaries 1-3, 4-5 and 6-7 — was judged by award-winning writer Zoe Strachan, Hutchesons’ Grammar pupil and Scottish Book Trust Young Writer winner Jamie Rodney and Helena Winocour, community fundraising officer at Cosgrove Care.

Helena told The Extra: “We received a wonderful variety of stories in an array of formats — some were also beautifully illustrated.

“The judges were so impressed by the standard of the entries that we had to introduce a highly commended prize too.”

In the P1-3 category, Dev Bhatti (Mearns Primary) scooped the top prize, with Kara Blackley (also Mearns Primary) taking the highly commended award.

Carolside P4 Lucy Robinson won in her category, followed closely by Jai Bhattie, from Mearns Primary.

In the P6-7 category, Juliet Ainsworth from Carolside Primary was the winner, with Anna Langford (also Carolside) taking the highly commended award.

The talented young writers were presented with certificates and prizes at Waterstones in The Avenue (both sponsors of the competition) by children’s author Theresa Breslin.