Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership has launched a story and art competition with a flu fighting theme – great prizes are up for grabs!
This competition is open to anyone aged 5 to 11 years old living in Bradford District and Craven.
Children can draw or paint a picture, or write a story of up to 500 words or less, based around the theme ‘flu fighter’.
Stories and art can include anyone, whether that be a favourite cartoon characters, celebrity, superhero, dinosaur, alien or princess.
Children are encouraged to be as creative as they want, so long as the story is about fighting the flu they can create anything their imagination drums up.
This template can be used for drawings or paintings. Children who choose to submit a drawing or painting are asked to include a short summary explaining the thoughts behind the flu fighter they drew.
“Flu can be really nasty and it is not like having a cold, it can have serious complications. Your child can feel very unwell for days resulting in missed school and you needing to time off to look after your child”, explains Yvonne Osborn, School Vaccination and Immunisation Lead at Bradford District Care Trust on behalf of Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership.
“Children can catch and spread flu easily. There is the option to take up the flu vaccination for your child, which protects them and other vulnerable family members, such as babies and older people.
“If your child is in primary or secondary school they will be offered a free flu vaccination at the school.”
The School Immunisations Team will be visiting schools from September to give the annual flu vaccination. You can easily take up the offer for your child by completing the online consent form on the family health services website, which will be live next week (from Monday 4 September) – just make a note of the code for your child’s school.
The flu injectable vaccine does not contain any pork (otherwise known as porcine/pork gelatine) and can be used as an alternative to the flu spray. To consent to flu injectable, click no to the nasal flu vaccine and you will be given further options.
Sarah Muckle, Director of Public Health for City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council said; “Every year as winter approaches, cases of flu become more common. It’s often the case that flu is spread to families via school-aged children. The best protection against flu and other seasonal diseases is immunisation, so it’s great that our partners at BDCHCP are raising awareness of the vaccine through this fun and creative campaign.”
The children’s story competition is now open and will close on 16 October 2023 (extended from 1 October, giving your little ones more time get drawing, painting or writing). Submit entries online or post for free to ‘Flu Fighter Team, Freepost Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, Scorex House (West), BD1 4AS’ – make sure to include the authors name, age and a parents or guardians email address or telephone number.
The judging will take place once the competition has closed, and the winners will be announced at the end of October. The top stories will be used to help other children and families learn about fighting flu.
Prizes
1st place: £50 Waterstones voucher
2nd place: £35 Waterstones voucher
3rd place: £15 Waterstones voucher