The theme for 2026 Catholic Young Writer Award is The Church’s Sacrament of Forgiveness: Why We Go to Confession.
The Catholic Young Writer Award for Catholic school pupils of secondary school age was launched by The Keys, the Catholic Writers Guild of England of England and Wales in the 1990s and has been flourishing ever since. It is now sponsored by the Catholic Union Charitable Trust. The winners are invited to the Annual Meeting of the Catholic Union, held each Autumn in London, to receive their prizes from the President, Baroness Hollins.
Joanna Bogle of the Keys, the Catholic Writers Guild of England and Wales says: “There has been something of a revival in the Sacrament of Reconciliation – confession of sins and receiving absolution from a priest – in recent years. Young people, in particular, have been discovering a fresh understanding of this Sacrament, and at large gatherings such as World Youth Day, large numbers of priests are available for the thousands who wish to go to confession and receive God’s forgiveness. Why we go to confession is a fascinating topic and I am looking forward to hearing the views of students”.
Professor Peter Hindmarsh, Chair of the Catholic Union Charitable Trust says: “I am delighted that the Catholic Union Charitable Trust is supporting this important award for the fourteenth year and very much encourage young Catholics up and down the country to participate. We are pleased to be running a Young Catholic Artist Award in tandem for the first time for primary schools also along the theme of forgiveness”.
To enter the Catholic Young Writer Award please attach this application form. For further information please contact info@catholicunion.org.uk or 020 8749 1321 The deadline for entries is 30 June.