Primary school children across our community have a brand-new chance to show off their artistic skills and help keep our streets clean, with a fantastic Premier League prize up for grabs. A newly launched drawing competition is asking young people to design artwork that highlights the importance of putting rubbish in the bin and taking pride in our local area. It is a great opportunity for families and schools to talk about the environment while giving creative kids a fun project to focus on.
The winning artist will receive two tickets to see Ipswich Town Football Club take on Brentford in their fixture on 26 December 2026. Alongside the thrill of attending a major football match, the winner will also see their design printed in the official matchday programme. This means thousands of fans will have the chance to admire their artwork and read their positive message about looking after the environment.
Supporting a cleaner community
The Litter Heroes competition is designed to encourage young people to become ambassadors for a cleaner environment. It forms a key part of the wider ‘This is our Town’ campaign run by Ipswich Borough Council. This initiative aims to get residents involved in caring for their neighbourhoods and taking ownership of the streets and green spaces around them.
The campaign is running alongside the practical efforts of the newly formed Neighbourhood Impact team. Over the next two years, this dedicated team is carrying out extra street cleansing work across the borough. They are specifically targeting areas that have been affected by weeds, debris, and dropped rubbish, ensuring that the town remains a pleasant place to live and work. The drawing competition aims to build on this physical work by changing attitudes and reminding everyone that keeping the town tidy is a shared responsibility.
Councillor Stefan Long, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sport, is keen to see what the town’s young people can create to support these efforts.
“We’re encouraging children to get involved and use their artistic talents to help highlight the importance of keeping Ipswich clean and tidy,”
He noted that while the Neighbourhood Impact team is already making a noticeable difference on the streets by transforming local areas, community support is absolutely essential. He emphasised that even small actions can have a massive effect on the overall look and feel of the town.
“We know children are passionate about protecting the places where they live, learn and play, and we hope this competition will inspire families across Ipswich to take pride in keeping our town clean and welcoming for everyone.”
What the judges are looking for
To be in with a chance of winning the Premier League tickets, children are invited to create a picture that covers one or more of the following environmental themes:
- Putting litter in the bin
- Picking up litter to help keep Ipswich tidy
- Keeping parks, streets and open spaces clean
- Taking pride in the town through the ‘This is our Town’ message
Participants are encouraged to be as creative as possible, but the artwork must be the child’s own original work. By entering the competition, participants agree that their submitted artwork may be used in future publicity and promotional materials relating to the competition itself or the wider ‘This is our Town’ campaign. All entries will be carefully reviewed and judged by the council.
How to get involved
The competition is completely free to enter and is open to all children of primary school age who either live in or attend a school in Ipswich. Only one entry is allowed per child, so young artists should make sure they submit their very best piece of work.
To submit an entry, parents, guardians, or teachers should email a clear photograph or a scan of the child’s artwork directly to communications@ipswich.gov.uk. When sending the email, please make sure to include the child’s name, their age, the name of their school, and the contact details for the responsible parent, guardian, or school staff member.
Make sure to send your entries in before the closing date on Friday 6 November 2026. Anything received after this deadline may not be counted in the judging process, so it is best to get drawing and submit those entries as soon as possible.
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