Share your own unique perspective of war and conflict. Consider what has shaped this — your experiences, nationality, heritage, gender, proximity, age, education and more. Join our conversation, send your voice across borders and inspire others around the world.

 

Using poetry, art and short films, we would like you to respond to this year’s theme and have your voice heard. 

 

Entries are divided into the following four age categories*: 

 

Age 9-11; age 11-14; age 14-16; and age 16-18. 

 

*The crossover of ages in these categories is to ensure children in the same school year have an equal opportunity. Categorisation is at the discretion of Never Such Innocence based on the information provided on the entry form.

 

Entries must draw on the competition theme: Through My Eyes

 

If you have any special educational needs you would like the judging panel to be aware of please make a note on your entry form. 

 

All submissions are given a unique entry number to anonymise the judging process. We kindly request that only the title be written on the entry to ensure the submission may be identified and kept anonymous. All other details about the entrant should be confined to the entry form. 

 

There is no entry fee. 

 

Only one entry to each category per individual or group will be accepted; entrants may enter multiple categories (for example one poem and one piece of art may be entered by the same individual).

 

The judges’ decision is final and neither the judges nor Never Such Innocence staff will enter into any correspondence.

 

The competition deadline is 26th February 2027

 

Winners will be notified on, or before, 5th May 2027.

 

Entries from entrants aged 15 and under must be submitted by an adult (e.g. parent/guardian or teacher) on behalf of the entrant. The adult submitting the competition entry will be required to agree to the Never Such Innocence rules by way of a check-box on the online form or physical entry form. 

 

The copyright of each entry remains with the author. However, by entering the competition, the author grants Never Such Innocence the right to publish and/or broadcast their work. All work entered into the competition may be broadcast with the entrant’s full name, age range, school and/or country.

 

The information you provide to Never Such Innocence is safe with us and we do not sell your data to third parties. Never Such Innocence will use and hold your data in accordance with the Privacy Policy which may be found here.

 

Poems
 

• All poems must have a title and must not exceed one page of A4 in size 12 font.
   

• Poems should consist of the contestant's own work and should not infringe any copyrights or any other rights of any third parties.
   

• Poetry written using AI will not be accepted.
   

• Poems may be written in any language.
   

• Poems should be either typed or legibly handwritten.
   

• If your poem is not in English, please include a written copy in your native language and a voice recording in your native language.

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Artwork 

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• All artwork must have a title. 
   

• Artwork may be produced in any medium such as water colours, pastels, charcoals, pencils, acrylic, crayons, paper cuttings, oil paints, sculptures and models, photography or digital media.
   

• Artwork should consist of the contestant's own work and should not infringe any copyrights or any other rights of any third parties.
   

• Artwork created using AI will not be accepted.
   

• When submitting your entry, we ask that you share a high quality photograph or scan of your artwork; we may request to see the original works of art following the initial shortlisting. 

 

 

Short Films
 

• Your film should respond to the theme: Through My Eyes.
   

• Your film must have a title.
   

• Your film must be no longer than 3 minutes.
   

• Your film can take any format - documentary, animation, drama, archive footage, video diary or mixed media! 
   

• Your film can be written or feature any language, but we would appreciate English subtitles or a translation! 
   

• Your film must be your own, original work. Films created using AI will not be accepted.
   

• Please submit your film as an MP4 file, or as a Youtube / Vimeo link.