Summer may just be coming to an end, but if you’re anything like Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, yule already be thinking about Christmas.
Lisa Townsend and her Deputy, Ellie Vesey-Thompson, are today launching their annual Christmas competition – and they’re looking for a brilliant young artist to design their festive cards.
Children working with any of Surrey’s youth services are invited to put pen, pencil or paintbrush to A4 paper and submit their creative ho-ho-holiday designs by Friday, 31st October 2025.
This year’s theme is ‘Christmas in Surrey’. The winner will receive a £100 Amazon voucher, and their design will be sent to MPs, leaders in public service and charitable sectors, local councillors – and even the Prime Minister.
Any child or young person involved with a Surrey youth service can enter the competition. That includes those who:
- Attend any youth club or project in the county
- Require additional SEND support
- Are members of any YMCA programme
- Have received help from Mindworks Surrey
- Are involved in any youth-based organisation, such as the Surrey Youth Cabinet
It also includes those involved with organisations that the Commissioner and her team help to fund.
These include mental health charity Eikon, Catch22, an organisation supporting young people at risk of criminal exploitation, and the Surrey Youth Commission, which allows its members to have their say on crime and policing issues.
“The most wonderful time”
Lisa, who helps to fund a range of organisations through her Children and Young People’s Fund, said: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year when Ellie and I choose our winner for the annual Christmas card competition.
“I’d urge everyone involved with any of Surrey’s youth services to create a design for us.
“We are very excited to see this year’s entries.”
It’s the fourth time the Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner have opened a competition to Surrey’s young people.
Last year’s winner, seven-year-old Felix, painted a cheerful snowman, and was rewarded with a family trip to Bockett’s Farm.
Competition launches
In previous years, children supported by services commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner were asked to submit their designs.
In 2022, a girl supported by domestic abuse charity I Chose Freedom was the winner, and the following year, a young person who attends Catch-22’s Music To My Ears Programme submitted the winning design.
Ellie, who has responsibility for the office’s focus on children and young people and leads the Surrey Youth Commission, said: “The Commissioner and I look forward to this competition throughout the year.
“I encourage all Surrey residents to share this competition widely.
“The standard of entries has been consistently high for the past four years, and we’re sure to see some brilliant artworks in 2025 too.”
How to enter
Paper pictures sent by post are preferred. Pictures can also be accepted via email, although the original must be supplied if requested by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Postal entries should be addressed to: The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, 3, The Drive, Sandy Lane, Guildford, Surrey, GU3 1HE.
Email entries should be submitted to ChristmasPCC@surrey.police.uk
You’ll need to include your name, age, the details of a parent or guardian’s name, and a contact number or email address so we can ask for permission to use your design.
For more information, visit surrey-pcc.gov.uk/christmas2025