FAIRTRADE groups across the Vale of Glamorgan have launched this year's young people’s art competition.

The Fairtrade competition will run until mid-March. Participants are required to create a piece of art to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Wales becoming a Fairtrade nation.

The competition is open to anyone aged under 25 in the Vale who wants to create a piece of art, a poster, a poem, an inspiring video, or another medium to express the message.

Launching the competition, Cllr Ian Johnson, Mayor of Barry, said: “It is great to see the Young People’s Fairtrade Exhibition again in 2024, this time focusing on 15 years of Wales as a Fairtrade nation.

“This has been very popular competition with schools in the past, as part of our commitment to learning about sustainability and the Future Generations Act that we have in Wales.”

The competition is being supported by the Fairtrade group in Dinas Powys, Llantwit Major, Penarth, and Barry, and by the Vale of Glamorgan Council and Fairtrade Wales.

There will be prizes for the winners and some of the most exciting entries will be part of a fair-trade exhibition that will be on display in different towns in the Vale over the next few months.

Cathie Jackson, from the Dinas Powys Fairtrade group, said: “Wales is celebrating 15 years as a Fairtrade nation.

“We want to see entries from young people and the importance of Fairtrade in tackling climate change, supporting farmers and how we in Wales can use Fairtrade to make the world a fairer and better place as we celebrate this anniversary.

“We are looking for a strong message on the theme, showing creativity and Originality.”

Entries to the Fairtrade Competition should be sent in by March 15, 2024. Send your entry or a photograph of it to ValeFairtrade@gmail.com

The judges this year are Jane Hutt MS, minister of social justice and MS for the Vale of Glamorgan, and Phil Gauci from the Vale of the Glamorgan Libraries service.

Selected entries will be exhibited and tour the Vale of Glamorgan later in 2024.