Terms and conditions of entry

Thank you for your interest in this exciting literary competition. Please make sure you read the below terms and conditions very carefully before planning and submitting your entry.

1. This competition is promoted by Compass Group UK and Ireland Limited, of  Rivermead, Oxford Road, Denham, Uxbridge UB9 4BF (the "Promoter").  By submitting your entry in accordance with these rules you indicate your acceptance of these rules.

2. The competition is open to students (in categories between the ages of 5 and 19 years of age as at the closing date of the competition) of any school in the United Kingdom.

3. Employees (and their relatives) of the Promoter and their agencies are excluded from participation.

4. All submitted entries must be entirely the original work of the student entering the competition.

5. The competition is not open to anyone who:-
    a. is represented under a contract (e.g. talent agent or manager) that might limit the Promoter's use of the letters entered; 
    b. by entering a letter will infringe any third party's rights; 
    c. is not eligible to participate in this competition.

6. Entries must satisfy the requirements described above, and must be received on or before the closing date of 31 September 2010. All entries received by this date will be entered into the Competition for judging by the panel as set out above with the winners for each category announced on 15 October 2010.  Entries will become the property of Compass Group UK and Ireland Limited and will not be returned.

7. No prizes shall be awarded for entries made in a different way to the requirements set out above, which are incomplete, received after the closing date of this competition, made fraudulently or from an entrant who does not comply with these rules.

8. If you enter this competition the Promoter will use your personal details to administer and run this competition (including making announcements about prize winners) and as described in these rules. To do this the Promoter may retain the personal details you submit in its computer records for a reasonable, necessary time; and it may need to share your details with its agents or contractors who help it to run its marketing and promotional activities.

9. By submitting their letter entry each participant is agreeing that the Promoter and their affiliates, licensees and third party partners can have a perpetual royalty free license to amend, edit, adapt or reproduce the entered letter in any way as they see fit and use it for any purpose in connection with the Competition. The entrant also waives all moral rights contained in the letter.

10. Any entry which is lost, stolen, sold, defaced, illegible, incomplete or defective in any other way will be deemed invalid and no responsibility can be accepted by the Promoter.

11. The winner of each category will win an engraved pen worth £50 and a book voucher from a recognised retailer worth £100. Two runners-up in each category will receive a book voucher from a recognised retailer worth £25. The overall winner will win a unique experience for themselves and friends and/or family members (up to a total value of £2000) as guests of Chartwells at a cultural or sporting event, and be able to select from an extensive list including (for example and subject to availability) hospitality at Wimbledon, Twickenham, or the Open Golf; seats or a box at the Royal Albert Hall, Glyndebourne or the O2 arena (the "Overall Prize").  All the finalists will also receive a framed certificate as a memento.

12. The prizes will be sourced and provided by Compass Group UK and Ireland Limited.  Prizes must be taken as stated and are not transferable. No cash or other alternatives are available to the prizes on offer. Depending on the number of eligible entries received, the Promoters in their sole discretion reserve the right to award greater than the number of prizes disclosed.

13. Redemption of the vouchers and the Overall Prize are subject to separate and specific terms and conditions applicable to those prizes, which shall be notified to the winner. The choice of event for the Overall Prize shall be subject to availability and the Overall Prize must be redeemed by no later than 30 September 2010.

14. The Promoter reserves the right cancel, withdraw or amend any part of the promotion or substitute any of the prizes at any time should this be necessary due to circumstances outside their reasonable control.

15. The judging panel using their discretion will judge the entries and select the winners following the criteria set out above as a guide.  The judging panel?s decision is final on all matters; no correspondence will be entered into.

16. By participating in this competition, you agree, to the maximum extent permitted by the applicable law, to release and hold the Promoter, any agency or representative acting on their behalf and its parent companies, affiliates, directors, agents, and employees, harmless from any and all liability whatsoever for any injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising from participation in or in connection with the competition, including, without limitations: (i) awarding, acceptance, receipt, possession, use and/or misuse of the prizes awarded to winning entries; or (ii) participation in any prize related activities. The above exclusion of liability shall not apply to death or personal injury caused as a result of the negligence of the Promoter.

17. The prize winners will be sent a notification of their success by post on 15 October 2010 (or within a reasonable time period thereafter) together with details of their prize and how to redeem it. By accepting a prize, the winner agrees to co-operate with the Promoter for reasonable and appropriate publicity purposes free of charge.

18. The names of prize winners and the panel of judges will be obtainable from Compass Group UK and Ireland Limited by sending a written request (together with a stamped addressed envelope) for the attention of the Chartwells Promotions Manager - Oxford Literary Festival, Compass Group, Rivermead, Oxford Road, Denham, Uxbridge UB9 4BF.

19. These rules are governed by the laws of England and Wales and by entering this competition you submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.