The Isobel Slorach Poetry Award

Into Creative is delighted to welcome submissions to The Isobel Slorach Poetry Award. Entries are invited from anyone aged 12 and over, writing in English or Scots and living in the UK or Ireland.

This competition is held in memory of Isobel Slorach who lived with Down’s Syndrome and was the aunt of the prize’s founder and judge, the poet Stephen Watt.

The closing date for entries is 5pm on Friday 31 July 2026. For an entry fee of £10 you may submit up to three poems of 40 lines or less on any subject. The rules and payment details can be found at the bottom of this page.

The unique and magnificent prize to the overall winner is that the poem will be interpreted by Scottish indie favourites The Bluebells, and a final song created to reflect what has been written. The winning poet will be invited to attend Sandfest 2026 at Strathaven Hotel on Sunday 25 October 2026 and read their poem prior to The Bluebells taking to the stage. Entries will be judged by Stephen, and all monies raised from the competition will be donated to Down’s Syndrome Scotland (DSS).

SandFest 26 – our fundraising concert! | Down’s Syndrome Scotland

Stephen Watt said: ‘This is a unique poetry competition in which I am enormously grateful to The Bluebells for agreeing to participate, and to Into Creative for hosting. Together, we hope writers across the UK will get involved and have their words turned into a song by one of Scotland’s best loved bands, in the name of raising money for an important charity.’

Please note:

  1. The competition is open to anyone over the age of 12 writing in English or Scots and living in the UK or Ireland.
  2. Entry fee is £10 for a maximum of three poems per person. Payment must made via the JustGiving page. All funds raised will be given to Down’s Syndrome Scotland (DSS).
  3. The poems can be on any subject but must not exceed 40 lines, excluding title and line spacing. Poems should be sent in Word or PDF format only to poetryaward@intocreative.co.uk after payment has been made.
  4. Work submitted should be original and not have been previously published nor broadcast, nor have won a prize in another competition. The poems should not be under consideration for publication or prizes elsewhere.
  5. The prize is a song created by The Bluebells which reflects what has been written. This song may be recorded and released, in which case all royalties will go towards DSS.
  6. Entries close at 5pm on 31 July 2026 – no entries will be considered thereafter.
  7. The judge’s decision is final. There will be no correspondence or discussion regarding this choice.
  8. The winner will be announced on our website and social media on 1 September 2026.
  9. The winner will be invited to perform their poem at Sandfest on 25th October at Strathaven Hotel, Lanarkshire, prior to The Bluebells taking to the stage.
  10. By entering the competition, you agree to Into Creative sharing your work digitally and in print. The winning entry will also be published on the Into Creative website.

Please make your £10 payment via this JustGiving Page link. We can only accept submissions once the donation has been made so it is important that you DO NOT donate anonymously. All submissions should be sent to Stephen Watt at: poetryaward@intocreative.co.uk