As we draw to the end of the competition in 2016, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our generous sponsors, Folkestone Town Council, Shepway District Council, Rosie Unsworth in co-operation with Rotary International and:

 the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS)

ALCS makes sure writers are paid what’s due to them when people use their work.

We collect money from all over the world, then pay it to our members. So far we’ve paid a total of £400 million. We also campaign to ensure writers’ rights are recognised and rewarded, and teach people what copyright is all about. We have around 90,000 members, and are a not-for-profit organisation. We were started by writers, for writers, and have been going since 1977.

Membership of ALCS costs just £36 and you don’t have to pay anything upfront, you can find out more here http://www.alcs.co.uk/