Terms & Conditions
Inclusive Voices – Short story competition
This competition is organised by
Calibre Audio
Aylesbury
Bucks HP22 5QX
01296 432339
Registered charity No: 286614 (England and Wales); SC051461 (Scotland).
1. Eligibility
1.1 Entry to this competition is open to people of all ages who are resident in the UK (including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) with the exception of Calibre Audio employees, trustees and related parties.
1.2 Entries will be judged in four age categories. Categories will be allocated based on age at the time of application. The four categories are:
Under 11s
11-17
18-25
26 and over
2. How to Enter
2.1 The Competition opens at 9am on 27th March 2024
2.2 The Competition closes at 5pm on 31st August 2024
2.3 Entries received outside of these stipulated times will not be valid.
2.4 There is no cost to enter the competition.
2.5 To be considered, all entries must comply with the following rules:
Stories can be submitted as either narrative or verse
Stories can be submitted in writing as a Word document or PDF; as a standard video file (MP4) or a standard audio file (MP3 or WAV). Any submissions in other formats will not be considered.
Stories should not be longer than 550 words.
Each story should contain a print disabled character (someone who finds it difficult to read the printed word.) Click here for a definition of print disability and resources to highlight the challenges they face.
All stories must be submitted in English.
Stories must be wholly written by the entrant and should not infringe the rights of any other party
No previously published stories will be considered.
Stories written by more than one person will not be considered.
Characters and events must be purely fictional, although they can be inspired by real life people and events.
Stories should not include any personal details about the author as they may be published.
Stories must not contain material that is offensive, obscene, defamatory or in any other way unsuitable and Calibre Audio reserves the right to disqualify any entries contravening this rule.
The use of AI tools is not permitted and any such entries will be disqualified.
2.6 The entry form can be found on the Calibre Audio website here: https://calibreaudio.org.uk/50th-anniversary/inclusive-voices. The online entry form enables entrants to upload their written, audio or video files. If you are unable to complete the online entry form, please contact us for help on shortstory@calibre.org.uk or by calling our Membership Services Team on 01296 432339.
2.7 Entrants may make multiple submissions, provided a separate entry form is completed for each story submitted.
2.8 If the entry is for a young person aged 17 or under, the entry form must be completed by an adult, aged 18 or over, who is responsible for obtaining parental consent and providing a copy of the Terms and Conditions to the parent/carer to ensure compliance. If the adult completing the entry form is not a parent or carer, please be aware that in event of a complaint, we may ask for proof that parental consent was given in advance of the entry being submitted.
2.9 Entrants retain the copyright to their entries but it is a condition of entry that Calibre Audio is granted a perpetual non-exclusive royalty-free licence to reproduce, publish, broadcast and post the entry, in whole or in part, online on all or any platforms. Only the story title, entrant’s name and age will be published with an entry. Permission to use a photo will be requested but is not obligatory.
3. Prizes
3.1 Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries in each category as follows:
3.1.1 The author of first placed entry in each category will win:
o A Day in the Calibre Studio in Buckinghamshire with the opportunity to record their story/hear their story being recorded for inclusion in the Calibre Collection, meet the team and other winners, take part in a photoshoot and enjoy a celebratory lunch (Under 18s should be accompanied by a parent/carer or another responsible adult over the age of 18).
The opportunity to attend a prize giving event at the Birmingham Central Library on Monday 21st October 2024
A place for their story in the Best Inclusive Voices print book which will also be recorded in audio.
An Echo Dot.
A £20 Book Token.
Reasonable travel expenses will be offered for receipted travel to each of the Buckinghamshire and Birmingham events if required.
3.1.2 The author of the second placed entry in each category will win:
The opportunity to attend a prize giving event at the Birmingham Central Library on Monday 21st October 2024
A place for their story in the Best Inclusive Voices print book which will also be recorded in audio.
An Echo Dot.
A £20 Book Token
Reasonable travel expenses be offered for receipted travel to the Birmingham event if required.
3.1.3 The author of the third placed entry in each category will win:
The opportunity to attend a prize giving event at the Birmingham Central Library on Monday 21st October 2024
A place for their story in the Best Inclusive Voices print book which will also be recorded in audio.
A £20 Book Token
Reasonable travel expenses will be offered for receipted travel to the Birmingham event if required.
3.2 No element of the prize may be transferred by the winner and no alternative (cash or otherwise) will be available or offered.
3.3 Winners will be notified in confidence on Monday 7th October 2024 by email or phone. The official announcement of the winners will be on Monday 21st October at 4pm at the live event in Birmingham Central Library. All winners are strongly encouraged to attend.
4. Judging Criteria
4.1 Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
Inclusion of a print disabled character.
Inclusion of a challenge faced by a print disabled character in the plot.
Authenticity
Originality.
Plot.
Characterisation.
Enjoyment.
4.2 The Judging Process will be as follows:
Initial screening of all entries by the Calibre Audio Editorial and Staff Team according to the criteria above.
The top entries will then be sent to the Judging Panel.
Each judge will score each story against the set criteria and the scores will be combined to determine the winner.
4.3 The names of the Judging Panel will be published on the Calibre Audio website.
4.4 The Judges decision is final, will not be subject to appeal and no correspondence will be entered into.
5. General
5.1 Proof of age, identity and eligibility may be requested from prize winners.
5.2 Calibre Audio reserves the right to disqualify any entry which breaches these Terms and Conditions, brings Calibre Audio into disrepute or to withhold a prize if entries are not deemed to be of a required standard.
5.3 Calibre Audio reserves the right to:
5.3.1 amend these rules or cancel this competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control.
5.3.2 disqualify any entrant or winner who breaches these rules, has acted fraudulently in any way or brings Calibre Audio into disrepute (in its sole discretion).
5.4 Calibre Audio accepts no responsibility for any technical failure or malfunction of any digital system or otherwise which may result in an entry being lost or not properly registered or recorded or is corrupt or unreadable. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.
5.5 Calibre Audio accepts no responsibility if entrants ignore these rules and each entrant, or their parent/carer/responsible adult submitting the entry, agrees to indemnify Calibre Audio against any claim made by any third party arising from a breach of these rules.
5.6 Entrants are deemed to have accepted these Terms and Conditions by submitting an entry.
5.7 If any of these clauses should be determined to be illegal, invalid, or otherwise unenforceable then it shall be severed and deleted from these rules and the remaining clauses shall survive, remain in full force and effect.
5.8 Calibre Audio reserves the right to terminate and revoke the prize if these rules are not adhered to.
5.9 The competition is run by Calibre Audio. These rules are governed by the laws of England and Wales.