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

Entrants should create one original Nicofiend character.

For older entrants, the character should bring to life a pressure, feeling, message or trick linked to smoking, vaping or nicotine.

Younger children may use the Feelings Monster activity to create a character based on a feeling, choice or situation and think about who they could ask for help.

Entries can be drawn, painted, collaged, crafted or created digitally.

Official entry sheets are optional. Original artwork created on plain paper is welcome.

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 or Feelings Monster name and one short sentence explaining what it represents; 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 15 January 2027. Entries received after the closing date may not be judged.

6. Winners

There will be 12 winners from across Wales. Judges will take each young person’s age and developmental stage into account.

7. Prizes

Prize structure updated: 23 October 2026.

There will be 12 winners:

• First prize: an Instax Mini 12 camera bundle, including film, a case and batteries.
• Second prize: a POSCA PC-1M 22-colour marker collection.
• Ten further prizes: a £10 gift voucher for each winner.

The first- and second-prize winners will receive their named prize instead of a gift voucher.

All 12 winners will receive a pack of Nicofiends playing cards and a certificate. Each winning idea will be professionally developed into an official Nicofiend character and playing card for the 2027 campaign.

First and second place will be selected using the judging criteria in section 8, taking each entrant’s age and developmental stage into account.

Prizes are non-transferable and there is no cash alternative.

This prize structure replaces the previous prize description, which included a gift voucher for every winner. Eligibility, the closing date and the judging criteria have not changed.

8. Judging

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

• creativity and originality;
• how clearly the character communicates its chosen pressure, feeling, message, trick, choice or situation;
• relevance to the Nicofiends campaign and its themes;
• suitability for the entrant’s age and developmental stage; and
• how well the idea could work as an official Nicofiend character and playing card.

The judges’ decision is final.

9. Winner notification

Winners will be contacted through the adult contact email supplied with 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 and adaptation 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 12 winning ideas will be professionally developed into official Nicofiends characters and playing cards for use in the 2027 campaign and beyond.

Winning entries may be photographed, scanned, reproduced, translated, published, adapted, redrawn and developed for Nicofiends cards, resources, campaign materials and promotional content.

The finished Nicofiend or playing card may differ from the original entry. ASH Wales may change colours, wording, names, clothing, poses, card symbols or game effects so the idea fits the Nicofiends illustration style, educational messages, card format and game rules.

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 will only be published where the responsible adult has given permission.

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.

Entries 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 .