Theme #1: "Home"

For our first theme, we asked children's social care experienced and/or disabled children and young people to submit artwork around the theme of “Home?”

We celebrated their creativity and talent with an awards ceremony in London, where we also announced the three winners.

Watch a video of the ceremony and have a look at the entries below:

Three pictures of a clay house about 2 or 3 ft tall. The house has a pointed roof that looks like a wizard’s hat and part of the house is actually a mushroom, with ivy or moss growing around the walls. A miniature bench completes the work.

AJ, 16

"Made with clay; air-dried, hand-painted and varnished"

Honey, 12

Home is where the heart is

A pencil drawing in black and white of two girls, both with long hair, facing away from the viewer and holding their arms to form a heart together. Inside the heart a writing reads BFF. Home is where the heart is.
A painting of a woman or girl wearing a red veil covering part of her head and her clothes, in stark contrast with the dark hair. She looks intently at the viewer with her green eyes.

Troy

"The lady in red"

"Printing layers"

Lucy, 11

second prize winner

Home is like the hope of Spring, the first flowers are in bloom and the birds begin to sing. The sun becoming stronger, days that last much longer and the happy feeling that it brings. Home is like ice cream on the hottest summer day, when I'm at home, like ice cream my fears just melt away. The feeling of a nice cold breeze in the lovely summer heat and the feeling of sand between your toes as you talk along the beach. Home is like the Autumn leaves, beautiful colours all around, the children having fun kicking leaves piled on the ground. Home is like winter, the glistering snow and the twinkling of lights. Home is like a blanket that keeps me warm and safe at night. My home is like a safe space, no matter what time of year, it's my happy place. And with the people inside, I don't have to hide, I can just be me. Inside these walls I feel completely FREE!

A pencil drawing in black and white of a huge ship moored right next to a park with lush grass and trees. A solitary but peaceful bench sits opposite the ship.

Callum

"I love drawing ships, Mel and Tim love the garden, and it feels like home." 

Kane, 11

joint third prize winner

Happy - Love

A cardboard model of a house with a smiling face and a heart for a nose. On one side, a tree has been drawn and words like safe, loving and happy grow on its branches. On the roof, decorated with smiley faces and hearts, read the words Happy and Love.
A series of drawings of people hugging, jumping with happiness, two hands making a heart sign and a pair of headphones, piano and guitar. The space between the drawings is filled with colourful lines, hearts, stars and swirls. The words Fun, Home, Comfort, Love and Relaxation are written around the page.

C.S, 13

Fun - Home - Comfort - Love - Relaxation 

Aurelia, 17

Dancers and doorknobs, and dragons in dens.
My house is the home to all kinds of them.
Strangeness and normal are things were forgot, in leaving this place we are things we are not.
Daft and delightful is enduring our keep.
Our company is compound in building this, see.
Houses are places and my home is not.
Singing is something that you'll hear a lot.
Angels and mermaids are not here bizarre, they are my family and this circus is ours.
All of us creatures, safe only here.

A bubble in time that only you fear.

The whole world around us slowly on fire.

To us it is you who's the mad liar.

Sanity is certain an unlikely state, but who would endure such unpleasant fate.

Fairies and dragons more common than not, together we're home.

And safe from you lot!

Charlie, 13

"Home"

Painting of a dalmatian with a red collar and yellow eyes.
A mix of writing about ‘Home’ and drawings of two houses and a clock.

Thomas, 13

"Home"

What is home? Home is somewhere where you feel warm and protected.

PRIVATE - KEEP OUT! Home is a place you can be yourself and a place for privacy space.

What I like about my home:

Home - Safety - Protection - Privacy - Warmth - Comfortable - A special place - Where you belong

Nova, 8

"Home"

Home is where I feel safe, it is a safe place where people are kind a happier place is hard to find. Home is colourful and beautiful. Playing games with my family or watching a movie hapily when I feel cared for it makes my feel loved more. So when your upset or down there is no need to frown.

A short text at the top of the page. The centre and bottom are occupied by the drawing of a young girl wearing a blue dress and white apron, smiling at the viewer. On the left, a path takes her to a house. On the right, the same path takes her to a village with houses, a church and a high-rise building. A yellow sun wearing sunglasses smiles from above the town.
A short story in comic form, drawn with a pencil in black and white, explained by Caleb in his description.A short story in comic form, drawn with a pencil in black and white, explained by Caleb in his description.

Caleb, 9

"The guy sees a creeper and remembers it can blow up, it blows up his house and he is stood in a pile of fallen, hovering scrap. He says 'I shall make another house' and he does. Everyone cheers and claps. He does a cool move and then whilst hugging his friend he says 'Home is the best place, and the best place is home'. The End." 

15-year-old, care-experienced disabled young person

Painting of a blue house covering most of the sheet over a bright pink background. There are six yellow windows, one door and a roof.

Rosie, 13

"Home is my happiness"

Home is like a dome of safety.
Safety is my carer.
My carer is protective.
Protect me from danger.
Danger was engulfing me.
Now in my home all I feel is happiness.
Happiness is my home.

Stephanie, 11

"Home is where the heart is"

A pencil drawing in black and white of a freckled child, smiling and looking at a butterfly flying and smiling back. The child is wearing dungarees over a tshirt and a hat.
Drawing of a cat or dog in very bright, fluorescent blue, green and orange. The pet looks happy with their mouth open welcoming their mouth open in a smile.

'D'

Leo, 9

first prize winner

Huge painting of a heart filled with gold paint.
petal_20230919_123326 - Aimee Thorpe.mp4

Aimee, 23

“My dolls house is a (hopefully!) easy to understand, statement piece. It shows 9 different bedrooms that I have lived in and the purpose is to show how unsettled living in care can be.”

A cardboard model of a doll house with nine rooms and tiny dolls as its inhabitants.

Hope, 12

"Home is where the Hope is"

A home is a place which the eye cannot see
A place where your heart can truly be free

A drawing of a peaceful clearing in the middle of a forest, with a plinth or fountain in the middle, flowers growing around, a waterfall, and butterflies and birds flying. Hope’s poem is written at the bottom of the page.

Troy, 20
"Feeling home when you have a voice"

“You spend time with you family and friends. And you treasure the moments you have. The love you grow and the care you have is special and heartwarming. The years and the months past the bond we all have is priceless.

Feeling home when you feel empowered, inspired and loved and having the voice to speak on issues that matter to us as young people being a shining star that we are. As its home sweet home.

Life is tough we all have our good days and bad days but our hearts are forever strong and feeling home by our loved ones as they are incredible people who loves us no matter what in our life. The greatest thing is your voice as it changes lives.

Feeling home when you feel empowered, inspired and loved and having the voice to speak on issues that matter to us as young people being a shining star that we are. As its home sweet home.”

A drawing of 2-D, one of Gorillaz’s members.

Evie, 12

“My version of 2-D rom gorillas, watercolours/pen.”