#SRtRCSpotlight: Celebrating Welsh Young Voices

The annual Schools Creative Competition, hosted by Show Racism the Red Card Wales, was celebrated at a vibrant awards ceremony in Cardiff. Designed to align with the six Areas of Learning and Experience in the Curriculum for Wales, the competition once again showcased the creativity, courage and commitment of young people across the country in promoting anti-racism.

Over 270 Schools 52,000 young people from across Wales took part in this year’s competition, producing powerful creative work that challenged racism, celebrated diversity and encouraged young people to use their voices to help build an anti-racist Wales.

The awards brought together an inspiring group of prize winners, parents, teachers and guests from across education, government, trade unions, sport, the private sector and community organisations.

This year’s ceremony was hosted by Natalie Jones from S4C, who guided guests through a powerful and uplifting celebration of young people’s creativity.

The event opened with an inspiring motivational speech from Recardo Erasmus, who spoke about the importance of Ubuntu, the idea that “I am because we are” and encouraged everyone in the room to reflect on unity, respect and shared humanity.

Following the first part of the awards, guests enjoyed lunch before returning for the second half of the ceremony, which included a performance from Connor Allen, poet, actor and former Children’s Laureate Wales.

Each competition category encouraged pupils to explore anti-racism through creativity, critical thinking and innovation. Awards were presented across Primary and Secondary categories, alongside special awards for Welsh language, bilingual entries and outstanding achievement.

Connor Allen

For 2026, Show Racism the Red Card Wales was proud to introduce two new awards in partnership with S4C, celebrating the power of the Welsh language and bilingual creativity in anti-racism education.

The Best Welsh Award recognised outstanding entries created through the medium of Welsh, while the Best Bilingual Award celebrated pupils who used both Welsh and English to share powerful anti-racism messages.

The awards were presented by Aled Evans and Eleri Griffiths from S4C.

Best Bilingual

Primary Winner: Toby McLenaghan, Alderman Davies CIW Primary School
Secondary Winner: Hana Thomas, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Maes y Gwendraeth

Best Welsh

Primary Winners: Iolo Wills, Macsen Thomas, Will Harborne and Joey Downes, Ysgol Gymraeg Ifor Hael
Secondary Winner: Tirion Clarke, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe

Equality by Design In partnership with Principality Building Society and presented by Caitlin Rodrigues.

The Equality by Design category invited pupils to use creativity and design to share messages of equality, inclusion and anti-racism.

Primary Runners-up: Amaya Hoque, Jumairah Alam and Ayisha Parvin, St Helen’s Primary
Primary Winners: Nevaeh Bratcher and Lou-Tia Borg, Lansdowne Primary

Secondary Runner-up: Jayanne Walker, Ysgol David Hughes
Secondary Winner: Lily Mai Jones, Ysgol David Hughes

Fans Unite In partnership with Cardiff and Vale College, with the award presented by Hayley McCallion.

The Fans Unite category encouraged pupils to challenge racism in sport and show how supporters, clubs and communities can stand together against discrimination.

Primary Runner-up: Roman Price, Gladstone Primary School
Primary Winner: Amna Shahmy, St Helen’s Primary

Secondary Runner-up: Yumna Fatima Haris Mehr, Cardiff High School
Secondary Winner: Christy Wong, Cardiff High School

Next Gen Builders In partnership with TUC Cymru and presented by Amarjite Singh.

The Next Gen Builders category asked young people to imagine and create ideas for a fairer future, using creativity to explore how Wales can continue building inclusive communities.

Primary Runner-up: Esme Camilleri and Khadija Ali, Rhydypenau Primary School
Primary Winner: Lolu Akinyemi, Lansdowne Primary

Secondary Runner-up: Gen Mouat, Bedwas High School
Secondary Winner: Grace Dudley, Bedwas High School

The Outstanding Achievement Awards recognised the creativity and contribution of young people with additional learning needs.

Outstanding Achievement — Primary

Presented by Shawn Staples and Simon Oyler from Portal.

Primary Winner: Danial Williams-Murray, Burlais

Outstanding Achievement Award – Primary Winner

Outstanding Achievement — Secondary

Presented by Rhian Robinson and Afshan Iqbal from CCHA.

Secondary Winner: Crownbridge Special School

Speak Up, Shout Out In partnership with Bridgend College and presented by Cartin Sullivan

The Speak Up, Shout Out category celebrated young people using their voices through performance, speech, song, rap and creative expression to promote anti-racism.

Primary Winners: Cwm Glas Primary Year 5/6 Pupils, Cwm Glas Primary, and Year 5 pupils from St Joseph’s Cathedral Primary School

Secondary Runners-up: Mia Pham, Hayden Snook Rhys and Maya Wood, Brynteg Secondary
Secondary Winner: Elliott Morgan, Hawarden High

Speak Up, Shout Out – Primary Winners

Untold Stories In partnership with Transport for Wales and presented by Roopa Vyas and Kayleigh Meek.

The Untold Stories category encouraged pupils to research and share the stories of people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds whose contributions deserve greater recognition.

Primary Runner-up: Poppy McMahon, Gwenfo Church in Wales Primary
Primary Winner: Jac Jenkins, Rhydypenau Primary School

Secondary Runner-up: Sienna Ngotho, Castell Alun High School
Secondary Winner: Ava Mainwaring, The Maelor School

Words That Matter In partnership with Admiral and presented by John Hoddinott and Rezanne Mattar.

The Words That Matter category celebrated original written pieces exploring racism, anti-racism, identity, belonging and equality.

Primary Runner-up: Demaris Rendle, Thornhill Primary School
Primary Winner: Lamar Eshak, Lansdowne Primary

Secondary Runner-up: Elizabeth Akintomide, Ysgol Penglais
Secondary Winner: Martha Griffiths, Ysgol Penglais

The National Education Union Cymru, the title partner for this year’s awards, continued its valued support for Show Racism the Red Card Wales and its work with schools and trainee teachers across the country.

The Overall Winner Award was presented by Stuart Williams from NEU Cymru, recognising one outstanding entry from across the competition.

The 2026 Overall Winner of the Creative Competition:
Grace Dudley from Bedwas High School

Overall Winner – Grace Dudley from Bedwas High School

Thank You to Our Partners

Closing the ceremony, Show Racism the Red Card Wales reflected on the powerful impact of the competition and the importance of giving young people a platform to speak out against racism.

Dean Pymble Show Racism the Red Card Wales said

“The creativity shown by pupils across Wales was a reminder that anti-racism is not just something to learn about it is something to live, share and act upon. Through art, writing, performance, design, technology and storytelling, young people demonstrated that they have the ideas, empathy and determination needed to help shape a fairer and more inclusive Wales.

Show Racism the Red Card Wales would like to thank all pupils, teachers, schools, families, partners, presenters and guests who helped make the 2026 Wales Schools Creative Competition Awards such a memorable celebration.”

Show Racism the Red Card Wales would like to thank all partners and supporters who helped make the 2026 Wales Schools Creative Competition Awards possible, including:

NEU Cymru

S4C
Bridgend College
Fire Brigades Union

Transport for Wales Cardiff and Vale College

Principality Building Society
Portal
Admiral
CCHA
Tai Pawb
TUC Cymru