1. Promoter

The Nicofiends Competition is run by ASH Wales.

For questions about the competition, email communications@ashwales.org.uk.

2. Who can enter

The competition is open to children and young people under the age of 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 ASH Wales staff member, trustee or volunteer will not be involved in judging that entry.

3. Entry types

There are two ways to enter.

Nicofiend character design: Create a Nicofiend character that shows a pressure, feeling, message or trick that could pull someone into smoking, vaping or nicotine.

Campaign poster: Create a campaign poster for Year 5 or 6 pupils. The poster should help younger pupils spot pressure linked to smoking, vaping or nicotine pouches.

Entries can be hand drawn, painted, made as a collage, created digitally, made on a tablet or computer, or created using Canva, PowerPoint or another design tool.

4. How to enter

Entries can be submitted through the online entry form at ash.wales/nicofiends.

Schools, youth groups and community settings can submit entries one at a time, or share a WeTransfer, Google Drive, OneDrive or shared folder link.

Postal entries are accepted by request. Please email communications@ashwales.org.uk to request the postal address.

Each entry should include:

• young person’s first name
• age or year group
• school, group or organisation name, if they have one
• entry title, if they have one
• adult contact email

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

5. Closing date

The closing date is Friday 4 December 2026.

Entries received after the closing date may not be judged.

6. Number of winners

There will be 12 winners in total across both entry types.

Nicofiend character design: first place, second place, third place and three runners up.

Campaign poster: first place, second place, third place and three runners up.

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.

Entries will be judged on:

• creativity
• clarity of message
• relevance to the Nicofiends campaign
• how well the entry helps young people spot pressure
• suitability for the intended age group

The judges’ decision is final.

9. Winner notification

Winners will be contacted using the adult contact email provided on the entry form.

ASH Wales aims to contact winners within 30 days of the closing date.

If ASH Wales cannot contact a winner after reasonable attempts, ASH Wales may choose another winner.

10. Use of entries

By submitting an entry, the parent, carer, teacher, youth worker or responsible adult gives ASH Wales permission to view, judge and store the entry for the purpose of running the competition.

Winning or selected entries 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 into campaign materials.

ASH Wales will not publish a child’s surname, address, phone number or personal contact details.

ASH Wales may publish a winner’s first name, age or year group, and school or group name, unless the parent, carer, school or responsible adult asks us not to.

11. Original work

Entries should be the young person’s own original work.

Entries must not include copyrighted characters, logos, brand names, images or artwork owned by someone else, unless the entrant has permission to use them.

Entries must not include offensive, discriminatory, unsafe or inappropriate content.

ASH Wales may reject entries that do not follow these rules.

12. Personal data

ASH Wales will use personal data provided through the competition to manage entries, contact entrants, judge the competition, contact winners, arrange prizes and manage campaign permissions.

Personal data will be handled in line with the ASH Wales Privacy Notice.

Personal contact details will only be kept for as long as needed to run the competition, contact winners, manage prize delivery and support agreed campaign use.

13. Changes to the competition

ASH Wales may make changes to the competition if something outside its control affects the running of the competition.

If changes are needed, ASH Wales will publish updated information 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 making sure uploaded files or shared folder links work and can be accessed by ASH Wales.

15. General

Entry to the competition is free.

By submitting an entry, the person submitting confirms they accept these Terms and Conditions.

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

16. Contact

For questions about the competition, email communications@ashwales.org.uk.