Cover Stories: Foyle Young Poets award; Barry Sheene; Polish Literary Season

¿ A great chance for budding young poets: the Foyle Young Poets award is open to those between 11 and 18, and the sixth annual competition is now running. Sponsored by the Foyle Foundation in memory of co-founder William Foyle, it aims to find and foster new talent. Thus 15 winners will be sent on a week-long residential course at the celebrated Arvon Centre. Further information on the competition, for which the closing date is 31 July, can be found at www.poetrysociety.org.uk.

¿ A year ago, Stuart Barker began work on a biography of Barry Sheene, the motorcycle legend who died two weeks ago. Sheene had felt he was unable to devote time and energy to the project so, with his blessing, Barker began talking to family, friends and associates. CollinsWillow will publish the book, Barry Sheene: the last word, in May, with a donation from each copy sold going to Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood.

www.poetrysociety.org.ukThe Polish Literary Season runs from 26 March to 30 May and includes poetry, prose, art, music and film. Among highlights is a nationwide tour by leading poets Julia Fiedorczuk, Marzanna Kielar, Tadeusz Pióro and Andrzej Sosnowski, who will launch the anthology Altered State. Novelist Olga Tokarczuk will also visit. London events take place at the Polish Cultural Institute, or at the Barbican. More information at www.polishculture.org.uk