Plan B calls on Britain's youngsters to use the power of music

Award-winning rapper Plan B today joined the hunt to find the nation's next generation of protest song writers by backing Amnesty's International's unique music competition.

Amnesty recently launched a new education pack called The Power of Our Voices. The interactive pack on protest songs, human rights and the lyrics of social change is targeted at 11-16 year-olds. It not only includes an assembly, lesson plans for English, Music and Citizenship, but also a competition encouraging people to write their own protest song.

The competition, which will help find the UK's latest version of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez or Black Eyed Peas, is open to all UK-based secondary and further education students aged 11-19. To make the competition accessible for everyone there are two categories – Best Lyrics and Best Performance.

Plan B has been nominated for two Brit Awards for the soundtrack of his film Ill Manors which he wrote and directed. And Amnesty's competition has caught his imagination. He said:

"Writing songs is a way I get my voice heard, to talk about what I see in the world. Everyone has a unique perspective; everyone has something to say. Make your voice heard. Enter Amnesty International's Protest Song Competition.

"It is really easy to enter just upload your lyrics or recordings to www.amnesty.org.uk/voices."

The song Ill Manors was also chosen by the author Iain Banks as his favourite protest song. He said:

"Of all musical forms, protest songs ought to be about now, not about nostalgia. They have jobs to do, not just poses to strike and Ill Manors is about right now."

Prizes include having work published by Amnesty and performing at an Amnesty event. In addition one winner will receive the Grand Prize of a school visit, performance and workshop from renowned rapper and poet Kate Tempest.

To order the new pack or to find out more about how to enter the competition visit www.amnesty.org.uk/voices.