Appendix 2 – Children’s competition
SMOKEFREE PLAY PARKS
Children’s competition
Introduction
Wakefield Council is launching a scheme aimed at encouraging people to not smoke in or
around play parks. As part of the scheme we will be placing signs in all of our play parks
asking parents and guardians to not smoke there.
To make the signs more impactful with parents and guardians, we are asking primary school
children in the district to take part in a competition to design the signs.
Why is it important?
Children who have parents / guardians who smoke are four times more likely to start
themselves. Over 80% of smokers start smoking whilst still at schools, with some starting as
young as nine years old.
Children are heavily influenced by the actions of their parents / guardians, and other adults
around them. They are also influenced by their fellow peers, meaning if one child starts
smoking there is increased risk others in their peer group will follow suit.
The Council, and our local and regional partners, are committed to inspiring a smokefree
generation, with the aspiration that by 2025 smoking is seen as unusual, not as normal.
There are many ways in which we are working towards realising this aspiration. One of the
key strands is to reduce the exposure that children and young people have to smoking – this
is where the smokefree play parks project comes in.
Not only will this help protect from the harms of second-hand smoke, but also reduce the
normality of the actual action of smoking.
The Council has already introduced a new policy which prohibits people from smoking
outside our buildings, which includes buildings that children use, such as libraries. Reducing
smoking in and around our play parks is the natural next step in our ongoing aim to increase
the amount of smoke free places across the district.
Why do we need children to design signs?
History has shown that residents are more resistant to an authoritative voice, and having
rules forced on them. This means they are not always as effective as we would like.
We believe that having children design the signs, alongside the message ‘children play here,
please don’t smoke’ will be more impactful, and will make adults think twice before smoking
in the play parks.
Below is the proposed signage that will be put up at every play park. The blank space
indicated by the dotted lines is the area that we are asking children to design.
Once the winning designs are chosen, they will be incorporated into the banner. They will
then be printed and will be placed at all Council owned play parks where there is appropriate
fencing.
How does the competition work?
 There are three categories for the competition: Years 1&2; Years 3&4; Years 5&6
 Pupils will submit their artwork as an individual - not as a class.
 To submit an entry, there are 4 steps to follow:
1. Draw a coloured picture on an A3 white piece of paper (which must be turned
horizontal) for the theme: Children playing in a park (Drawings in coloured
pencil, crayon, paint or felt pen will be accepted)
2. Write name, school, and school year in pencil on the back of drawing.
3. Complete the parent / guardian consent form.
4. Send entries to: Adrian Winterburn, Room 12a, Wakefield Town Hall, Wood
Street, PO Box 700, Wakefield WF1 2HQ
How will the winner be chosen?
A panel of representatives from the Council’s communications and public health teams will
shortlist entries. The shortlist will then be promoted on Facebook, and members of the
public will be asked to vote for their favourites. The most likes, shares, and comments wins.
Will there be a prize?
We hope children will enjoy taking part in our competition, and we will be thankful for all
entries. We have managed to get some prizes for a winner and two runners-up in each of
the three categories. The prizes:
 First place: One family swim at any Wakefield Council swimming pool, plus a £30
Amazon voucher.
 Second place: £10 Amazon voucher (two runners-up in each category).
What are the timeframes?
 Closing date for entries is Friday 10 February 2017
 Public vote will take place Saturday 25 February to Sunday 5 March 2017
 Winner will be announced Friday 10 March 2017