Julia Donaldson - Credit: Urszula Soltys
Sussex school children invited to enter Story Trail Writing Competition - deadline to sign up and take part in Story Trail Learner Programme is 13 February
Julia Donaldson CBE, children’s author, creator of The Gruffalo and Amaze patron, is today confirmed as judge for the children’s Story Trail Writing Competition, part of the Amaze Story Trail Learner Programme. The competition will take place during the summer term 2026, with winners from participating schools, nurseries and community groups announced in July.
The Story Trail Writing Competition is part of the Story Trail Learner Programme, which offers a resource pack of tailored curriculum based activities for schools, nurseries, colleges and community groups who sign up to the Amaze Story Trail. Participating groups will also receive their very own BookBench sculpture to design and decorate, and later keep, which will be part of the art trail across Brighton and Hove. Schools and groups must sign up by 13 February 2026 to take part.
Julia Donaldson, children’s author and Amaze patron said: “As a patron of Amaze it’s great to be part of the Story Trail, inspiring children and young people across Brighton and Hove to get involved in reading and art. I’d encourage local schools and groups to join the project which offers so many creative opportunities for their young people to write and draw, and to see their own artwork alongside that of local professional artists on their streets."
The Story Trail is an outdoor sculpture trail organised by Amaze in partnership with Wild in Art, with over 30 BookBench sculptures being painted by local artists that will be displayed on Brighton and Hove’s streets from September to November.
Philip Ford, CEO at Hopscotch, who are sponsoring the Learner Programme element of The Story Trail added: “Julia Donaldson’s stories bring huge smiles, big imaginations and endless excitement to children across our Hopscotch nurseries and they are much loved by both the children and our team. From heading outdoors to hunt for the Gruffalo, to creating their own Stick Man during craft time or dressing up and riding Zog the dragon, her stories inspire so much play and creativity every day. Supporting the Story Trail Learner Programme feels like a perfect fit for us. This wonderful project invites families to step into stories together, celebrating creativity, inclusion and the joy of learning. We are absolutely delighted to be involved and proud to support the fantastic work of Amaze.”
More than 20 schools and community groups across the city have signed up to the Learner Programme so far. They include Hopscotch Children’s Nurseries, Carden Primary, Longhill, PACA, Dorothy Stringer and Varndean. Each participating group’s BookBench will be on display across a variety of indoor locations, such as libraries and museums, during the Story Trail, with the decorated sculpture returned to the groups at the end of the Story Trail for display or to auction and raise funds.
Hannah Albrooke, Head of Fundraising and Marketing at Amaze said: “The Learner Programme is a crucial part of the Story Trail as it directly connects our services for families with disabled children with other young people and educators in the city. The programme fits into the national curriculum and provides new activities for creative writing and art work. It will also help us raise vital funds to support all those families with a disabled child or with special education needs who rely on our services.”
The cost for schools and community groups to take part in the Story Trail is £145 per book bench, with participants asked to fundraise towards a target £750 per book bench, to cover the cost of each sculpture. Alternatively, groups can take part by paying a £995 participation fee.
The Story Trail is Brighton & Hove’s first storybook art trail taking place in autumn 2026, which will reveal local artist’s creations on over 30 BookBench sculptures across the city’s streets and parks, in addition to the mini BookBenches from participating schools. The trail is organised by local charity Amaze, which supports families with disabled children in Sussex.
More information about the Learner Programme in the Story Trail can be found at amazesussex.org.uk/thestorytrail/story-trail-learners, with final details of the writing competition being announced to participating groups. Local schools or community groups interested in getting involved can email Amaze on learners@storytrail.org.uk, or call 01273 234014.
