As we approach the end of 2021, we are looking back at our work and achievements this year.

The start of 2021 posed challenges for all of us, however, despite that The Charles Causley Trust has had many achievements this year.

Beginning in May, we digitally launched our annual Young Person’s Poetry Competition, under the theme of ‘Belonging.’ Our judges were looking for entries that reflected ideas of belonging as an important part of human nature and to think about how we imagine, feel and experience our attachments and the attachments of others. This was particularly pertinent during a time in which the nation was so physically detached from friends and family.

Over the summer, the shortlisted entries were judged by novelist and Charles Causley Trust patron Patrick Gale. The prize-giving presentation was held at the North Cornwall Book Festival in September, with a live Zoom video feed for the winners who were unable to physically attend. Amongst the record 515 entries we received in this year’s competition, our winners hailed from as close as Bridgwater in Somerset to as far as London, Manchester, Suffolk and even Aberdeen!

In July we hosted our first ever hybrid Festival of Arts and Literature. In having a mixture of online and in-person events, we were able to connect not only with people in and around Launceston, the hometown of Charles Causley, but also Charles’ international audience, over Zoom. Our programme included workshops, spoken-word performances, theatre and tours through Launceston.

Following our festival, we began developing a completely new project – our online literary blog, The Maker. Our creative writing blog launched at the start of September under the theme “Eden,” inspired by Charles Causley’s Poem ‘Eden Rock.’  We were overjoyed to receive 17 submissions in our first publication month, a fantastic achievement for such a growing project. For our November publications, we widened our submissions pool to accept all South-West universities and we look forward to growing The Maker as a hub for literary creativity.

This month, we launched our International Poetry competition and are thrilled that this year’s Head Judge will be Trinidadian Scottish writer, Vahni Capildeo. After moving to the UK in 1991 to read English language and literature at Christ Church college at the University of Oxford, they have published eight books and eight pamphlets so far in their career. They have also worked at Oxfam Head Office and for the Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre as a volunteer and a volunteer trainer. The deadline for entries to our competition is Monday 28th of February 2022 and winners will be announced in April 2o22. For more information, see our competition page.

Vahni will also be our 2022 artist resident! In February 2022, they will undertake our annual 1 month-long artist residency at the late home of Charles Causley, Cyprus Well.  Funded as the final part of a larger two-year project, Ignite, the project is a paid opportunity for an artistic individual to produce one or a series of artistic expressions, inspired by the historic castle and town of Launceston, in addition to the work of the Charles Causley. We look forward to seeing what Vahni creates in a grand unveiling in the summer of 2022.

This month we also launched our highly anticipated Mother’s Boy weekend event, in celebration of the launch of Sunday Times bestselling author Patrick Gale’s latest book, ‘Mother’s Boy.’ The novel, which explores the boyhood of Charles Causley and the life of his mother, will be released in March. Our weekend of events includes a student workshop with Patrick, a community book signing and MUCH more. See our event page for a full programme and secure your tickets!

This year has also brought some new additions to the Charles Causley Trust team. Previous interns Lauren Bilsborough, Kate Debling and Eloise Speechly became part of the core team, working respectively on The Maker and marketing and digital engagement. We also welcomed Claire Heard to the team as our Office Manager and our marketing lead, Eleanor Mason, became our Development Manager. All of our activity this year has been overseen and championed by our Acting Director, Nicola Nuttall, and we look forward to further building the trust’s engagement with art, literature, heritage and literacy in the new year.

To find out more about this year’s work, see our news page. Watch this space for information about our upcoming projects in 2022.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all!