The Colony

Correction: you’re not old

"Under-represented" is such a vague term! Would you be eligible for any of the British benefits such as universal credit or income support? If you're answer is yes (you don't need to answer here), then I would say you can justify that answer. No one, as far as my googling tells me, has defined "under-represented" as it pertains to publishing.

My experience of this, given that description also fits me, is that it doesn't – but it doesn't stop me trying. And I have tried, e.g M Milburn, Penguin RH...

Looking the elephant in the room squarely in the eye, I don't think we're the kind of under-represented that is being looked for. But hey! sometimes rules are bent

For example, I didn't get a free place for The Novelry's Ninety-Day Novel course – presumably because I wasn't 'under-represented' enough – but they did award me a bursary. Different submission, though.