Set up in memory of former political columnist Hugo Young to inspire aspiring young journalists, the Hugo Young Award is a political opinion writing competition for teenagers and young people aged 16-25 who attend or have attended a state-funded secondary school in the UK.

Entries for the 16-18 category must be between 500-700 words long and be linked to current local, national or international political events.

Entries are judged by a panel of Guardian journalists. The winning piece is published on The Guardian Foundation website and there are prizes for the winning author and their school.

Timetable:

• The 2024 competition opens for entries on January 15th.
• The deadline for the 19-25 age category is 11th February. The deadline for the 16-18 age category is 26th February.
• The shortlists will be announced in early March.
• The winners will be announced in March.

Cost: Free.

About The Guardian Foundation: The Guardian Foundation is a charity that promotes global press freedom and access to liberal journalism. They work with journalists, news organisations, audiences and educators, in schools and across communities to enhance people’s ability to evaluate news critically, facilitate opportunities for inclusion in media and build media capacity.