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This year, Caudwell Children proudly celebrates 25 years of seeing potential. Little Writers, in partnership with the National Literacy Stoke on Trent, highlighted disabled and neurodivergent children’s potential, showcasing their unique creative ability and imagination.
We were thrilled to receive over 30 incredible entries and enjoyed reading each one. After the success of this competition, we are excited to introduce you to our talented winners!
Meet Harrison – 1st Place Winner
Hello, my name is Harrison, author of “The cheerful tree”. I’ve just turned 11 and I’m autistic and have ADHD. I love building with Lego, playing with my mum on Star Dew Valley and reading.
What inspired you to start writing?
I have struggled with my handwriting and writing poems and stories has helped me improve.
What do you enjoy most about writing?
I enjoy writing poems as I like finding interesting and unique words that rhyme.
How did you feel when you found out you had won the Little Writers competition?
When I found out I had won “Little Writers” I was surprised as my mum entered me. I was really happy that people enjoyed my poem.
What message do you hope readers take away from your poem?
When I started the poem, I didn’t plan any meaning from it but as I wrote it, I realised that it did have a meaning about not letting other people make you sad.
Why is it important for disabled and neurodivergent young people to have opportunities like Little Writers?
I think everyone can write poems and stories no matter if they have disabilities or are neurodivergent. I think everyone has things inside them to say.
If you could change one thing about how people see disabled and neurodivergent individuals, what would it be?
Sometimes people expect less from disabled and neurodivergent people but when given opportunities we can shine.
What do you want to do when your older?
When I’m an adult I want to work in engineering creating robots that help people do chores as chores are so boring!
Meet Myles – 2nd Place Winner
Richard Myles’ dad told us:
Myles is a neurodivergent and incredibly creative boy. He loves storytelling, drawing, and making up songs. A passionate reader, he enjoys book series, but his favourites are graphic novels. On weekends, he attends a drama club and recently auditioned for the role of the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland—he was overjoyed to land the part and has been thoroughly practicing his lines. At school, Myles is part of a dance club and recently participated in a competition. His parents were extremely proud to find out that his team placed second, and he was absolutely thrilled to share the news!
Why did Myles start writing?
Myles has a vivid imagination and thinks of lots of stories in his head so he enjoys writing them down, he wrote his first story when he was 6. Myles is awaiting a diagnosis for dyspraxia; he struggles with his handwriting so we support him a lot in getting his stories down on paper.
What does Myles love about writing?
Myles said “I like to write and I get excited about where the journey will take me and the adventures I will come across. I feel the emotions of the story I’m writing so if it’s happy I feel happy and if it’s sad I feel sad.”
How did Myles feel about coming second in the Little Writers competition?
Myles said “I felt really really happy, I’ve only dreamed of becoming a published author and didn’t think it would happen until I was an adult, so to have it happen so young is a dream come true.”
What inspired Myles to write ‘Roony’s Magical Multi-coloured Pen’?
Myles said “I did a creative writing course last year for children and we were able to create our own character and that is when I thought of Roony. I really wanted to write a story about Roony and then when mummy told me about this competition it gave me the chance as I have always wanted to write a book. I love Roony, I look at the sky and think why do we sometimes see pictures in the sky and I think there might be someone creating them and then I thought of Roony. I wanted him to have Autism like me as I don’t ever see characters like me.”
What message do you hope readers take away from Myles’ story?
For us as his parents we can’t express how proud we are of him, Myles is desperate to fit in and to be treated like every other person and we think if any message can come from Myles’ story it’s to believe in yourself and always treat others how you wish to be treated. If you can be anything, be kind.
Myles said “Everyone maybe different but we should all treat each other equally.”
Why do you think it’s important for disabled and neurodivergent young people to have opportunities like Little Writers?
It’s so important and we’re so grateful Myles has been given this opportunity to express himself.
I think the world forgets disabled and neurodivergent children are able and only want to be treated like everyone else and given the same opportunities to show how able they are! Yes, life sometimes needs to be adapted but we need to be more accepting and if the world just adapts a little bit, we will see how incredible these young people are. Their imaginations and the way they see the world is so unique and beautiful and we need to be doing more to give them the platform to express that.
If you could change one thing about how people see disabled and neurodivergent individuals in the creative world, what would it be?
Firstly, making the right adjustments and being more inclusive, if SEN people were given the right platform and support their creativity will flow. Also remember most are really able and treating them like they are, including them in discussions in what would help them most, helping them understanding their disabilities and how best to support them.
What does Myles want to be when he’s older?
Myles has lots of ideas for his future, he wants to direct films, be a published author and would also like to be a video game creator. So, every aspect of Myles’ future would definitely include being creative.
Meet Lyla – 3rd Place Winner
Lyla is 8 years old and is from Manchester. She enjoys singing, yoga, gaming and always loves to learn new things. She was diagnosed autistic at 4 years old and is proud of her neurodiversity.
What inspired you to start writing?
My main inspiration started from reading comics such as Dogman, Bunny vs Monkey and reading The Phoenix magazine each week. This inspired me to start to think of stories of my own. Also, the lessons we have in school teach me different things I can include in my writing. I like to be creative with my ideas.
What do you enjoy most about writing?
It makes me feel good to write and create my own stories based on the things I like and that happen in my life. I want to write so I can feel accomplished.
How has writing helped Lyla?
Emma, Lyla’s mum said “As she is getting older, Lyla is finding social situations and friendships quite tricky to navigate. We work on things closely with her and I feel that the positive messages she included in her story about kindness, friendship, acceptance and seeking that inner happiness show that she is processing the things we are working on and is demonstrating her understanding of these things through her writing.”
How did you feel when you found out you came 3rd in the Little Writers competition?
I felt really happy to know that the judge liked my story. I loved receiving positive feedback about my creativity. I told all of my family and teachers because I was so proud of myself.
What inspired Lyla to write ‘The True Story of Starlight – My Friend from the Sky’?
Emma said “When I came across the competition and mentioned it to Lyla, it took her a few days to show some interest and she had a few questions about what it would involve and was worried about her ideas being good enough for someone else to read. During the school holidays, we went to one of Lyla’s favourite places that has a huge basket swing that she adores. While I was pushing her on the swing, Lyla started to tell me a story about her plush toy ‘ghostie’ and I could see that she was linking together the experience she was having with other story telling language and ideas she knew. I enjoyed listening to her story a lot and upon returning home, Lyla grabbed her laptop and typed her idea up and asked me to submit for the competition. I was really proud of her for finding the courage to want to share her idea with the world and to create something entirely new and unique.
What message do you hope readers take away from your story?
I think the message would be, don’t just judge someone because they’re from somewhere else, just don’t judge anyone. Treat people nicely.
If you could change one thing about how people see disabled and neurodivergent individuals
If you could change one thing about how people see disabled and neurodivergent individuals, what would it be?
I wish that people wouldn’t judge people like me because our brains work differently and our creativity can be so one of a kind that it should be celebrated more. Everyone should be given the chance.
What do you want to do when you’re older?
I would love to be a successful author when I’m older. I would like to combine stories with pictures or animations like in the comic books I enjoy and create videos to accompany my stories.
The Little Writers competition has been an amazing celebration of talent, creativity, and imagination. We are incredibly proud of all the children who participated and shared their stories and poems with us. As we continue to champion inclusivity and opportunity, we look forward to empowering even more young minds to express themselves through storytelling. Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to everyone who took part in making this competition such a success!
