This online art gallery is run by the National Children’s Bureau and the University of Kent as part of their Living Assessments project in partnership with the University of Cambridge. Find out more here.


We are currently collecting submissions around the theme of Adventure, in whatever the word means to young people who identify as social care experienced and/or as having a disability and are under the age of 25. 

A £200 gift voucher will be awarded to the best artwork submission and second and third place will also receive prizes.

Click here to enter a submission or email us at onlinegallery@ncb.org.uk.

Troy, 22

Adventure of me

Life you wonder it’s the unknown. Being who I am as a Autistic young person who has a learning disability is a adventure.

Being a youth activist advocating for SEND, Youth voice and inspiring young people and speaking to decision makers that’s a adventure.

Spending time with my friends going to meals out and watching movies and even calling on the phone laughing with joy that’s a adventure.

Being home with my Mum and sister enjoying the chilling weekends and spending time together as one with the rest of the family cherishing the moments we have together, that’s a adventure.

The world we live in spins every day as the moment of life goes on. The memories we share, the challenges we face, the opportunities we gain, the love we share. The forever care we give will forever be the adventure that is me.

Phoebe, 10

Adventure in Dreamtopia

The three images show a drawing of a rainbow-coloured castle floating on a cloud, a flag flying from the highest of the three towers reads "DREAMPTOPIA". A rainbow fills the background while a dog sleeps on a cloud in the top left corner, and a cat lies on another cloud by the castle. At the bottom of the page, two pandas sit on clouds and one says: "Come on you can do it". Phoebe's initials and the title of the artwork are written in the bottom right corner.

Hope, 13


"These two pieces of connected artwork represent what adventure means to me. The first is an old faded map, one with forests and on top little notes of plans of adventures to different places. The second one is of me and one of my friends living out the adventure, in the places shown on the map. In the picture we're swinging on vines, as for years I've always had this at the heart of my definition of adventure."

Hope's artworks, described by her in the text above.
A pencil drawing shows a mountainous landscape, with rocky mountains and trees in the background. A solitary but peaceful tent is pitched in a clearing in the foreground, surrounded by smaller rocks and bushes. A big, round sun and a ribbon reading the word Adventure spread above the mountains.

Isaac, 11

Yusuf, 16

The Adventure We Never Asked For

They say life is an adventure,
But they never mentioned this one.
Not the kind where you pack your bags and run—
But the kind where they take you from home,
From everything you’ve ever known.
The kind where the world is heavy,
But you carry it alone.
They took me from my mum,
She cried, and I didn’t understand.
What’s the point of adventure if it’s not by hand?
I wanted her arms, not strangers’ hands.
I wanted her voice, not bureaucracy’s commands.
A child in care,
They slap a label on your name,
But never ask you,
Never listen to the pain.
An adventure where the path’s unclear,
Where home feels distant, year after year.
The paperwork piles high,
Like walls around my heart,
They tell me, “You’re safe now,”
But they don’t see the scars that never part.
Every move, every change,
It doesn’t feel like living,
It feels like rearranging
Trying to fit in spaces that were never made for me.
I’m a number, a case,
In a system that’s broken,
More concerned with ticking boxes
Than hearing words unspoken.
Where’s the funding for the help I need?
Where’s the care when I’m out here,
Lost and alone,
Trying to figure out who I’m supposed to be?
No adventure here, no golden quest,
Just a fight to survive,
Trying to find a way to feel alive.
I wonder, if they look deep enough,
Will they see the story in my eyes?
Will they hear the dreams I still carry inside?

I want to be seen.
I want to be heard.
But all I hear is silence,
My thoughts, they blur.
A life of adventure?
Maybe, but in my own way—
Not by their rules,
But by the strength I find each day.
I’m more than the paperwork,
More than the labels they give,
I’m a story in the making,
And I’ll find my way to live.

"The artwork is a powerful spoken word piece that explores the emotional and personal journey of a young person navigating life in children’s social care. It highlights the struggles of separation from family, the weight of bureaucracy, and the challenges of being labelled and misunderstood. Despite these difficulties, the piece also portrays resilience and the hidden strength of those who endure these hardships, ultimately asserting that their stories and voices matter. This piece is a raw reflection of the complexities of life in care, framed as an adventure that is both painful and empowering."

A white background with half a butterfly drawn and coloured on the right side with black, orange and blue colours. Text in green colour on the right side that says "Everyone wants Happiness No one wants Pain But you can't have a Rainbow without a little rain"

Skye, 17

Living life as an adventure

Michael, age 8

Michael's favourite bird the Blue tit, hunting for food, that's an adventure!

Green grass at the bottom and a tree on the right side with a blue tit sitting on it
White background with black sketching showing Two football players showing rivalry from the anime/manga series Blue Lock.

Riley, 12

Two football players showing rivalry from the anime/manga series Blue Lock.

Chapman, 14

Chapman Shum's original composition is a vibrant and expressive piano piece that takes the audience on a dynamic journey through a range of emotions. The music reflects the highs and lows of his musical journey. The piece builds toward a confident conclusion, leaving listeners inspired and eager to follow Chapman on his next musical adventure. 

Video_47a41668-53b4-4600-acbc-73df676d803e - Chapman shum.mp4

Micael, age 11

The story of Borf City and the Barf Attack

A painting showing characters of the story including mountains and a desert
A painting showing characters of the story with a dragon painted in the centre

Read the full story here: 

Micael, 11.pdf
A drawing of a mermaid tail dipping into the water, with a sun, rainbow and hearts surrounding it. Tiana has written around the drawing: "What you have to do with them is give them niceness and speak to them nicely and carefully. Always believe in mermaids and monsters because they can make your wishes."

Tiana, 6

Two drawings of a world with mountains, a lighthouse, paths and rivers. Writings around it read "never give up the world is yours!", "you are special", "I have autism".

Lola, 8

Madison, 12

A drawing of the face of a young blond person facing sideways and wearing headphones. The person appears to be crying and their mouth is open. A writing in the middle of the page reads 'Not everything is black and white!', while on the right hand side a TV is showing sign language instructions.

Lexie, 8

Drawing of lots of people around the paper; one of them is a young girl with long hair and a skirt and it has an arrow pointing from it to a writing that says "I am des". Another one is indicated as the artist's mum.

Types of content you can submit

Visual artwork from our launch party

During our launch party in June 2023 we invited a graphic recorder to create this amazing poster. It captures key themes spoken about during the event in an egaging and exciting way. Zoom in on the picture to see some of the amazing messages shared by our attendees! 

Our online gallery aims to inspire and encourage young people to explore different forms of creativity, share their diverse lived experiences, and establish a sense of solidarity within the social care community. 

Want to find out more about our launch party and the project? Read our news story here.