Every child is an artist famously said Picasso and judging by the responses to the children’s art competition that we held during February and March, we would be inclined to agree!
We asked children in each of our three local authorities to create original artwork based on the theme of family. The entries ranged from cute and sweet, inspiring and dynamic to powerful and psychedelic!
A testament to the talent and imagination of the wonderful children who have come through the service.
The competition was broken down into three age categories: 0 – 5, 6 – 11 and 11 plus. The first judging event took place in the Bridgend County Council’s Mayor Reception room on Tuesday 3 March. The Mayor and Councillor Phil White had to decide on the winners of the 0 – 5 category, going with the choices below:
Summing up Councillor White, Cabinet Member for Social Services and Early Help, said: “They are simple as can be expected. But there are lovely messages in these efforts – of what family is and what it means to these children.”
The 11+ category judging took place in the Lord Mayor’s Reception Room in Swansea Council’s Guildhall. Lord Mayor Councillor Peter Black and Principal Social Worker Kate Ronconi our judges for the day had a tough time deciding on the winners.
As can be seen below there was a real kaleidoscope of colour and invention on display based around the theme of family:
“Picking just three was very hard,” said the Lord Mayor. “The winners receive book vouchers, but also the service is looking to use the artworks on information packs, posters and the website– making the service more colourful, fun and child focused.”
Last but most certainly not least was the 6 – 11 age range which was judged by Councillor Alan Lockyer and Youth Mayor Abi Price in Neath Civic Centre on 5 March. The judges took a while again to deliberate and decide on their winners due to the quality and imagination on show.
Councillor Lockyer, Cabinet Member for Neath Port Talbot Council’s Children’s Social Services, said: “We are committed to building on our children’s rights work to ensure that children and young people have a say in matters that affect them. Activities such as these help to ensure children are made to feel part of the service and that their voices are heard.
“The Western Bay Adoption Service has a key role in transforming the lives of children waiting in care for a permanent, loving home. I would encourage anyone who is considering adoption to contact a member of our excellent adoption team and find out how you could give a child a new start in life.”
Thanks again to all the fab families for submitting their work. Winners are due to receive book vouchers and their framed artwork back in the post soon. All entrants will receive a certificate for entering and contributing their effort to the colour of the service.