Award-winning communications agency Scriba PR is encouraging youngsters to get their creative juices flowing with the launch of a short story competition.

Having named children’s literacy organisation Grimm & Co as its ‘charity of the year’ PR specialist Scriba kickstarted the competition as part of a wider fundraising initiative which sees the 14-strong Yorkshire-headquartered team aim to drum up £8,000 over the course of 12 months, in celebration of the agency’s 8th birthday last year.

Acknowledging the power of creative writing in cognitive development and self-expression, Scriba is challenging children throughout the region to pen a short magic-themed tale up to 500 words. The top three storytellers will win a selection of prizes, kindly donated by Grimm & Co.

Open to anyone up to the age of 11 with a Yorkshire postcode, the competition marks Scriba’s latest drive to maintain or ignite youngsters’ passion for the English language.

Commenting on the launch of the challenge, Scriba’s managing director and founder Katie Mallinson said: “As a comms agency, we firmly believe in the power of the written word and our partnership with Grimm & Co feels like a meeting of two minds.

“This competition is one of many fundraising activities we have planned in order to meet our £8,000 target — with a quiz, three peaks challenge, and fun run dressed as famous literary characters, to name just a few!

“So, we’d like to encourage anyone to send us their best 500 words – fictional or not – for the chance to win!

“Scriba’s charity initiative has generated £1,055 so far via a sponsored silence and fitness challenge, and there’s plenty more where that came from!”

Scriba PR, founded in 2013, has previously supported charities including Yorkshire Children’s Centre, Thrombosis UK, Conscious Youth, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and Cancer Support Bradford and Airedale, with both monetary donations and pro bono PR services.

The closing date for the creative writing competition is March 31 and winners will be announced on April 4.

All entries cost just £2, which can be paid via the fundraising page. Any youngsters wishing to enter the competition, should send their name, address, age — and of course their story – to office@scribapr.com or via post to Scriba PR, Wellington Mills, 70 Plover Road, Huddersfield, HD3 3HR.