1. Promoter

The Nicofiends Competition is run by ASH Wales. Questions can be sent to communications@ashwales.org.uk.

2. Who can enter

The competition is open to children and young people under 18 who live in Wales, or attend a school, youth group, community setting or home education setting in Wales.

Entries must be submitted with permission from a parent, carer, teacher, youth worker or responsible adult.

Children of ASH Wales staff, trustees or volunteers may enter. If a conflict of interest arises during judging, the relevant person will not take part in judging that entry.

3. What to create

The competition has two fixed entry routes. Primary schools, youth clubs, Girlguiding units and other community settings should submit an original Nicofiend character. The character should bring to life a pressure, feeling, message or trick linked to smoking, vaping or nicotine.

Secondary schools should submit a campaign poster for Year 5 or 6 pupils. The poster should show one pressure linked to smoking, vaping or nicotine, what it hides or leaves out, and one clear message. It does not need to feature a Nicofiend character.

Home educated entrants should use the character route if they are of primary school age and the poster route if they are of secondary school age. Each entrant completes one route only.

4. How to enter

Entries can be submitted through the online form. Schools, youth groups and community settings can submit one entry at a time or share a WeTransfer, Google Drive, OneDrive or shared-folder link. Postal entries are accepted by request.

Each entry should include:

• the young person’s first name;
• their age or year group;
• their school, group or organisation name, if they have one;
• their Nicofiend name and one sentence explaining it, or their poster title if used; and
• an adult contact email.

Do not include the young person’s surname, address, phone number or other personal details in the artwork.

5. Closing date

The closing date is Friday 4 December 2026. Entries received after the closing date may not be judged.

6. Winners

There will be 12 winners: six Nicofiend character winners and six secondary campaign poster winners. Each route will have a first, second and third place, plus three runners up. Judges will take the young person’s age and developmental stage into account.

7. Prizes

Winners will receive a certificate, a small prize bundle and a voucher. Prize details and voucher values will be confirmed before winners are announced. Prizes are non-transferable and there is no cash alternative.

8. Judging

Entries will be judged by ASH Wales staff and invited partners on:

• creativity;
• clarity of message;
• relevance to the Nicofiends campaign;
• how well the entry helps young people spot pressure; and
• suitability for the entrant’s age and developmental stage.

Character entries will be judged on how clearly the Nicofiend represents its chosen pressure, feeling, message or trick. Poster entries will be judged on how clearly they communicate with Year 5 or 6 pupils.

The judges’ decision is final.

9. Winner notification

Winners will be contacted through the adult contact email on the entry. ASH Wales aims to contact winners within 30 days of the closing date. If a winner cannot be reached after reasonable attempts, ASH Wales may select another winner.

10. Use of entries

By submitting an entry, the responsible adult gives ASH Wales permission to view, judge and store it for the purpose of running the competition. The winning characters and poster ideas may be photographed, scanned, published, adapted, redrawn, developed or used as inspiration for official Nicofiends campaign materials in 2027 and beyond.

ASH Wales may work with designers, illustrators, campaign partners or suppliers to develop selected entries. A child’s surname, address, phone number or personal contact details will not be published. A winner’s first name, age or year group, and school or group may be published unless the responsible adult asks ASH Wales not to do so.

11. Original work and generative AI

Entries must be the young person’s own original work. Generative AI tools must not be used to create, write, edit or alter any part of the entry. Standard non-generative tools in Canva, PowerPoint, drawing apps and photo-scanning apps are allowed.

Entries must not contain copyrighted characters, logos, brand names, images or artwork owned by someone else without permission. They must not contain offensive, discriminatory, unsafe or inappropriate content. ASH Wales may reject entries that do not follow these rules.

12. Personal data

ASH Wales will use the information supplied to manage entries, judge the competition, contact entrants and winners, arrange prizes and manage campaign permissions. Personal data will be handled in line with the ASH Wales Privacy Policy and kept only for as long as needed for these purposes.

13. Changes to the competition

ASH Wales may make changes if something outside its control affects the running of the competition. Updated information will be published on the competition page.

14. Liability

ASH Wales is not responsible for entries that are lost, delayed, damaged, incomplete, corrupted or not received for technical reasons. Entrants are responsible for checking that uploaded files and shared links work and can be accessed by ASH Wales.

15. General

Entry is free. By submitting an entry, the person submitting it confirms that they accept these terms and conditions. These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

16. Contact

Questions can be sent to communications@ashwales.org.uk.