Young Storyteller of the Year is an annual storytelling competition in the UK for young people aged between 15 and 25 which has been running since 2005. There are a range of awards including cash prizes and performance platforms at various storytelling festivals.
The event raises the profile of young public speakers, providing them with an annual platform and showcase. Most of the active young storytellers in England and Wales have come through Young Storyteller of the Year. [1]
The most recent winners are Polly Tisdall (2011), Samuel Aitken & Jonathan Wingard (2010), Wilf Merttens (2009), Tom Bland (2008) and Rachel Rose Reid (2007), who is a storytelling hit in more than one capital (London Evening Standard) [2]
The event is organised by the Traditional Arts Team and directed by Graham Langley. It has been supported financially by Arts Council England and Birmingham City Council, and in 2011-12 by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.