The Gytha Annual Literacy Competition invites young people across the Chernihiv region and the County of Kent to explore one of the most remarkable, yet often overlooked, links between Ukraine and the United Kingdom. That is the life and travels of Lady Gytha of Wessex, daughter of King Harold Godwinson (who died at the Battle of Hastings in 1066), who became Princess Gytha through her marriage to Volodymyr Monomakh of Kyivan Rus. 

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The story of this remarkable young woman represents more than a historical footnote. Gytha is a symbol of intercultural dialogue, our shared European heritage, and the ancient friendship that exists between the people of Ukraine and England. 

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​About the Competition

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The Gytha Annual Literacy Competition encourages students to explore the legacy of Gytha of Wessex and reflect on what her life means for Ukrainian identity, European interconnectedness, and the story of Chernihiv itself.

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Through this competition we aim to: 

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• Deepen understanding of historical ties between England and Kyivan Rus' 

• Encourage young people in exploring and reinterpreting heritage through creative and analytical writing.

• Strengthen regional identity and pride in Chernihiv’s important place in European heritage.

• Support the development of English-language learning through international collaboration. 

• Promote intercultural dialogue between young people in Ukraine and the United Kingdom.​​

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Themes for 2026 Competition: 

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The Gytha Annual Literacy Competition 2026 encourages students aged between the ages of 12 and 22 to produce either an essay or poem based on one of the themes below. The 'Wild Field' theme enables students to submit an entry that may not necessarily fit into one of the suggested themes. 

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Participants may choose one of the following essay themes: 

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• "Gytha as a Bridge between East and West"

  • Tip: Explore how her life connects the medieval worlds of England and Kyivan Rus' and what this means today.​

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• "If I Were in Her Place"

  • Tip: Undertake a creative reflection imagining Gytha’s experience as she left England for Chernihiv.​

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• "The Female Voice in the History of My City"

  • Tip: Think about Gytha’s role as a learned woman and a young mother who may have brought English books and language into the Kyivan Rus' ​

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• "What Would Gytha Teach Us Today?"

  • Tip: Imagine what lessons Gytha might offer to people today about leadership, courage, and embracing culture. 

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• "Across the Borders and the Centuries - Gytha and the modern Ukrainian-British Friendship"

  • Tip: Consider how Gytha's life serves as a foundation for the modern partnership between Ukraine and the United Kingdom and how this relationship covers education, culture, and Ukraine's future.

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• "The Wild Field"

  •  Tip: Named after Johnny Stonborough's book on Gytha, 'Wild Field: An 11th Century Love Story' this is your chance to demonstrate your creative flare through an essay that touches upon Gytha's life and legacy in the context of Ukraine today. 

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Participants may choose one of the following poetry themes: 

 

• "A Lady of Two Worlds"

  • Tip: Capture Gytha's identity both as the daughter of the King of England and the Princess of  ​the Kyivan Rus'. 

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• "My Parents"

  •  Tip: Gytha's remarkable parents, King Harold Godwinson and Edith the Fair played an important role in English and European history, reflect on this legacy and the important role that parents are playing in the context of the war in Ukraine today. 

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• "A Poem to the Future"

  • Tip: Imagine that you are Gytha - Produce a poem to young Ukrainians today about resilience, culture, and the importance of hope.

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• "The Wild Field"

  •  Tip: Named after Johnny Stonborough's book on Gytha, 'Wild Field: An 11th Century Love Story' this is your chance to demonstrate your creative flare through a poem that touches upon Gytha's life and legacy in the context of Ukraine today. 

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Submission Guidelines and Rules:  

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• Submissions must be made through this website using the submission form. Entries will not be accepted via email or post under any circumstances. 

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• The entries will be judged under the following categories: 

  • Junior Awards (14 and Under)​

  • Senior Awards (15-17)

  • Young Adults Awards (18-22)

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• There will be one Ukrainian winner and one British winner selected for each of the categories. 

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• One winner will be selected to receive the overall grand prize and honour of becoming the 'The Gytha Laureate of 2026' 

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• All participants will receive a certificate of participation and the judges reserve the right to award additional certificates of commendation.

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• Participants must be aged between 12 and 22 years old at the point of submission, and either resident in the Chernihiv Region of Ukraine or the County area of Kent in the United Kingdom. Displaced residents from Chernihiv may enter the competition providing that they meet the age requirements. 

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• Essays should be between 500 and 1000 words and may be submitted in either English or Ukrainian (writing in English is encouraged as an additional advantage). 

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• Poems can be submitted in any style ((lyric, narrative, epic, sonnet, Ukrainian poetic structure, etc). 

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• Poems must be within a 40 lines maximum

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• By entering the competition students under the age 18 must have obtained parental consent. 

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• The decision of the judging panel is final and is not subject to review. 

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• By participating in the contest, participants grant the organizers the right to publish and use the essays (with author attribution) in the collection and within the program’s communication. 

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• By entering the competition, the participant is giving their consent to the processing of personal data (full name, age, educational institution and contact details) for the purposes of the contest, communication, and awarding. Personal details will not be shared with external parties and kept in-line with Kent With Ukraine's Data Protection Policy. 

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• ​There is no fee to enter the competition and there is no cash prize alternative. 

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• There will be a Jury of three judges from the UK and three judges from Ukraine, who will judge submissions from their respective countries. 

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• Each Jury will make one two nominations for The Gytha Laureate Award of 2025/26 - These will be submitted to Johnny Stonborough, Iryna Martseva and Jordan Meade who collectively make up the Grand Jury and will determine which entry receives the Gytha Laureate Award of 2025/26. 

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• The competition will open on: DATE COMING SOON

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• The competition will close on: DATE COMING SOON