Hulme Grammar School launches Oldham-wide literacy award initiative

Hulme Grammar School has announced the launch of the Winfield Literacy Award for Oldham, a new initiative aimed at promoting literacy and creative writing among young people in the local community.

This exciting programme is inaugurated with the renaming of the school library to the Winfield Library, in honour of former headmistress Miss Margaret Winfield.

The renaming ceremony took place recently and featured Miss Winfield herself as the guest of honour, along with The Mayor of Oldham Metropolitan Borough and 50 distinguished alumni for a special afternoon tea event.

This initiative is not just a milestone for Hulme Grammar School but a significant step towards addressing the literacy challenges faced by the wider Oldham community.

Recent discussions with Oldham Council have highlighted the urgent need to improve literacy rates, with local children currently underperforming in reading and writing compared to the national average.

Additionally, alarming statistics reveal that as many as 40,000 children in Greater Manchester do not own a book.

In response, the Winfield Literacy Award for Oldham invites young people across Oldham to submit a short story (500 words) to a competition.

The award aims to ignite a passion for reading and writing, providing a platform for young writers to showcase their talents.

Efforts will be supported by a series of creative writing and literacy workshops hosted at the newly-named Winfield Library, designed to inspire and guide participants in crafting their entries.

Hulme staff are delighted to collaborate with Madeleine Lindley Ltd., a local book supplier, who has generously agreed to sponsor one of the award categories.

The prizes include:

1st Prize: £50 book voucher plus £500 in books for the winner’s school - 2nd Prize: £25 book voucher - 3rd Prize: £15 book voucher

Hulme Grammar School Principal, Tony Oulton, said: "The competition will feature three categories, ensuring opportunities for a broad range of young writers.

"We would love to hear from other companies to join us as headline sponsors or to sponsor one of the categories.

"We believe this award will not only motivate our students but also reach out to the entire Oldham community, fostering a love for reading and writing among our youth.

"We are committed to making a positive impact on literacy and we invite all local schools and young people across Oldham to participate."

The judging panel will comprise of distinguished authors, educators, and alumni, ensuring a fair and inspiring competition.

Hulme encourage all young writers in Oldham to seize this opportunity and submit their stories.

For more information about the Winfield Literacy Award for Oldham, including how to enter and details of upcoming workshops, please visit the website here

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