12 March 2014

NSI was founded by Lady Lucy French OBE

Ahead of the Centenary of the First World War, Lady Lucy French OBE, wanted to ensure young people had the opportunity to be part of Remembrance activties, and NSI was born!

14 May 2014

NSI Launch Event

The Launch of Never Such Innocence: Australia House - with a remarkable theatrical performance, blending poetry, prose and music from the Great War, compiled by our trustee, Dr Martin Stephen.

16 October 2014

Centenary Workshops, Roadshows and Competitions

We visited schools all across the UK and abroad, delivering workshops, hosting roadshows and facilitating an annual international competition. Over this period, we received competition entries from over 11,000 young people in 47 countries.

4 December 2014

NSI at the Belgian Ambassador’s Residence

The event was held at the Ambassador’s beautiful residence on Belgrave Square and the evening began with a champagne reception and then guests were invited upstairs for a reading of First World War poetry, letters and songs by the illustrious John Julius Norwich, Alan Cox, Mark Field and Charlotte Newton-John. After the reading, a number of guests joined the Ambassador for a delicious supper in his dining room.

20 May 2015

2014/15 Competition Awards Ceremony

Never Such Innocence held a celebratory Awards Ceremony for its Poetry and Art Competition at the Jones Day auditorium. The event brought together numerous winners from across the country to share their work with sponsors, partners, and friends. Attendees enjoyed insightful reflections from judge Dr. Martin Stephen on First World War poetry and commentary on entrant talent from art judge Charlie Barton. Awards for the art and poetry categories were presented by Lieutenant General Andrew Graham CB CBE and Brigadier David Ross CBE, respectively. Talented student poets shared their winning entries before the event concluded with a reception for the winners and the Never Such Innocence team.

16 May 2016

2015/16 Competition Awards Ceremony

The 2015/16 Awards Ceremony was held at the House of Lords to celebrate competition winners. Attendees included Founder Lady Lucy French, Baroness Jenkin, and Earl Howe, who gave speeches honoring the students' work. Prizes were presented by General Sir Gordon Messenger and Captain Chris Smith, while the American Defence Attaché, Brigadier-General Dieter Bareihs, collected a prize for winner Mia Nelson. The event featured live poetry readings from talented students and the announcement of new partnerships with Mappin & Webb and Dave Stewart Entertainment. The celebration concluded with a reception on the terrace overlooking the River Thames, honoring the young winners and supporting organisations like The Westminster Foundation.

2 February 2017

Visit to HMS Iron Duke

This special roadshow took place aboard HMS Iron Duke to engage children with the centenary of the First World War. Local students performed songs and poems they had created, while Commander Steven Banfield MBE and the Ship’s Company hosted the young guests for a special tour. The event also featured contributions from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which highlighted the importance of researching local war graves.

17 March 2017

NSI at Canada House

We were very kindly hosted at Canada House, by HE Ms. Janice Charette, High Commissioner for Canada to the United Kingdom, for our gala dinner

25 May 2017

2016/17 Competition Awards Ceremony

2016/17 Awards Ceremony was held on May 25, 2017, at The Guards Chapel, drawing international winners from countries like Malaysia and Canada. Attendees were greeted by military cadets and Reverend Stephen Dunwoody before Founder Lady Lucy French and General Sir Gordon Messenger presented the awards. The ceremony featured moving poetry readings from winners as well as a musical performance. Other notable guests included the Rt Hon. Earl Howe, Malaysian Defence Advisor Brigadier General Kamarol, and various authors and dignitaries who supported the young participants. The day concluded with a march led by the Band of the Welsh Guards to the Officers Mess for a celebratory reception.

31 July 2017

Passchendaele 100

A large scale exhibition was held at the Passchendaele Memorial Park, Zonnebeke. Artefacts, interactive activities, film screenings, musical performances and talks by historians and curators will bring the history of Passchendaele to life. Young people from NSI shared work on the main stage at the event.

18 January 2018

NSI Visits RAF Leeming

The event took place in a real working aircraft hangar, and the Air Force provided some fascinating displays and activities for the students before the main event began. Students from every attending school participated in the main afternoon event onstage, and showed incredible confidence showcasing their work in front of special guests including Air Commodore Simon Bostock, Deputy Lieutenant for North Yorkshire.

19 January 2018

PM May at CWGC Headquarters Roadshow

NSI visited the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Headquarters for a roadshow to commemorate the First World War. The event featured performances and presentations from students representing five local schools, supported by the RAF Salon Orchestra and local RAF Cadets. Special guests, including Rt Hon. Theresa May MP and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, praised the students for their insightful poetry and musical contributions. Air Vice Marshal Mike Wigston emphasised the importance of remembrance and the RAF's upcoming centenary. 

7 February 2018

NSI Visits RAF Lossiemouth

Children from schools in Moray joined us at RAF Lossiemouth to participate onstage, showcasing incredible confidence in front of special guests like the Lord Lieutenant of Moray. Air Vice-Marshal Ross Paterson commended the students' songwriting and highlighted the RAF100 anniversary as inspiration for future competition entries. Attendees also explored the history of the base through interactive displays, ranging from historical ejector seats to modern survival equipment.

24 May 2018

2017/18 Competition Award Ceremony

The 2017/18 Never Such Innocence Awards Ceremony, held at The Guards Chapel, celebrated over 7,000 competition entries with winners from across the globe. Attendees were greeted by military cadets and the Royal Marines Drum Corps, with proceedings led by Reverend Stephen Dunwoody. The ceremony featured keynote remarks from President Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Founder Lady Lucy French OBE, and General Sir Gordon Messenger, who presented the awards. Throughout the event, prize-winning children performed their poems and songs. The day concluded with an Act of Remembrance, a drill display by the Queen’s Colour Squadron, and a unique opportunity for the young winners to visit an RAF helicopter.

29 June 2018

NSI Visits Warminster Garrison

Our Legacy Tour visited Warminster Garrison, hosted by the local military community and joined by Dr Andrew Murrison MP and local dignitaries to celebrate students' achievements. Children from five local schools received Certificates of Commendation for their moving poetry, impressive artwork, and original songs. After the ceremony, attendees explored modern military equipment and met with a First World War reenactor to bridge the gap between history and the present day.

18 October 2018

Book Publication

NSI published two books, Stories of the First World War and an Anthology of winning work throughout the Centenary

7 November 2018

Finale at Buckingham Palace

Everything you need to know about our timeline history.

15 November 2018

Together: A UK-German Centenary Project

Sir Sebastian Wood, British Ambassador to Germany and the British Embassy in Berlin hosted the Awards Ceremony for Together: A UK-German Centenary Project. This initiative was a collaborative effort supported by the British Embassy, Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (the German War Graves Commission), UK-German Connection, and the British Council. The event brought together young people aged 9 to 16 from across the UK and Germany to showcase winning poetry, artwork, and songs. Their creative contributions reflected on our shared history and looked toward a future of unity and hope.

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13 December 2018

NSI Visits Glasnevin Cemetery Museum

We visited the Glasnevin Cemetery Museum in Dublin to award certificates to pupils from across Ireland who participated in our international competition. The event featured speeches from Glasnevin Trust and Never Such Innocence leaders, alongside the presentation of a special commemorative booklet showcasing the competition's top entries. Attendees explored the museum's exhibitions and heard children share their creative work inspired by the conflict.

1 January 2019

NSI stakeholder consultation

With the Centenary now finished, NSI looked to the next steps. We held a consultation across the UK and indeed the world, to hear what our stakeholders wanted us to do next.

2 September 2019

Launch of the new international programme

We heard from our stakeholders and launched our new programme, Giving Children and Young People a Voice on Conflict, inviting reflection on war, both past and present.

2 September 2019

Launch of our Voices of Armed Forces Children Programme

Having visited bases, hangars and ships across the UK, we learned about the distinct experiences of military connected children and launched a special programme to allow them to share the challenges and opportunities to have a parent in the armed forces.

(Artwork by Giorgia, 8-11, RNRM, 2024 MotMC winner)

26 June 2021

Military Kids Choir

As part of our Voices of Armed Forces Children Programme, we started our Military Kids Choir, which brings together tri-serivce military connected together, to write, record and perform original songs. The first meeting of the choir was to record their first song, Welcome Home, at Abbey Road Studios.

24 January 2022

Britain's Got Talent

Our Military Kids Choir was on Britain's Got Talent, with their performance of 'Welcome Home' getting them through to the live semi finals, where they performed a new, original song, Stand Up. 

1 April 2022

Month of the Military Child

Alongside the Ministry of Defense, we launched our Month of the Military Child initiative, to include an annual  poetry and art competition, each April. 

29 August 2022

Launch of Conversations on Conflict

We launched the first phase of the Conversations on Conflict programme, which invited young people to answer 3 key questions: What does war mean to me?, How does war affect others? and How can we prevent future wars?. 

10 October 2023

25 years On

In cooperation with the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), NSI provided a series of creative activities for young people to reflect on the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Their poems were published in a digital booklet and were invited to Hi

29 February 2024

10th Anniversary Event

Hosted by Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, OBE DL VR, Governor of Edinburgh Castle, NSI alumni shared a variety of songs, speeches and poems in the Great Hall.

1 March 2024

10 Year Anniversary Exhibition

To mark our 10th Anniversary, we held a special exhibition at the Royal Society of Arts, featuring work from across our past 10 years. 

28 June 2024

Military Children visit to No 10

Thirty children from military families visited 10 Downing Street to participate in a special songwriting workshop hosted by Mrs Murty as part of the "Lessons at 10" initiative. During the event, the students discussed their experiences living in different locations and collaborated to write a song about the importance of remembering friends made along the way. The day was further highlighted by a birthday celebration for one of the attendees, creating a memorable experience for everyone involved.

29 September 2025

Phase Two of Conversations on Conflict

We launched the second phase of the Conversations on Conflict programme, running through the summer of 2028.

14 September 2026

Launch of Stories of Conflict Resource

Utilising the NSI archive, featuring over 20,000 pieces of work by young people from around the world, we created mini databases