Inclusive • Accessible • Essential
For the Welsh Version of this Page please see here: https://fasttrackcymru.wales/hiv-rse/
Fast Track Cymru believe that education is of paramount importance to combat HIV related stigma, eliminate new HIV transmissions and empower young people to make healthy choices around their wellbeing whilst embedding respect, empathy and social justice within their learning. Consequently, we have created a National, multifaceted project, funded by Gilead that includes an Art competition and accessible, inclusive educational resources.
FREE webinars: Fast Track Cymru are hosting a free webinars on Teams for all educators be it parents, carers, teachers, youth workers or anyone else interested in this project on the following dates:
24th September 11am – 12:30pm
13th October 4pm – 5pm
11th November 12:30pm-1:30pm
To get the link to join one of these webinars please email fasttrackcities@hiv.wales
| National HIV Art Competition The National HIV Art Competition is a celebration of creativity, courage, and compassion. We invite young people, up to 25 years old, across Wales to use their imagination to respond to the theme: “Create for Change: HIV in Wales” Through art, young people have the chance to explore HIV in a positive, stigma-free way; raising awareness, sharing powerful messages, and breaking down barriers. Winning entries will be showcased in an exhibition for World AIDS Day in the Senedd on the 2nd December helping to amplify youth voices and challenge stigma through visibility and creativity. If HIV is the focus, young people can create whatever they want. This could be painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, collages, poetry, spoken word, short films, the possibilities are almost endless. Young people could consider HIV: Past, present and/or future, HIV stigma, prevention and treatment, HIV stigma, the red ribbon symbol, hope, or anything else that connects with HIV. The FIRST place entry will also win £100 with other prizes to be won too. Deadline for Submission: Friday 14th November 2025 Please note: We are expecting most entries to be from those 16+, but have opened the competition out to all young people up to 25 years of age, as HIV can impact those younger than 16 and it’s important to us and those we work with to reflect this. See below for FAQs as well as links to download posters, information and the entry form. | RSE HIV Education Resources Fast Track Cymru is proud to launch an innovative set of cross-curricular HIV education resources, designed to support the delivery of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in Wales. Educate, Embed, Engage, Empower: this is more than education; it is a collective commitment to respect, inclusion, and justice. Every young person deserves it. Every educator can deliver it. These resources: · Embed HIV education across ALL subjects: Science, English, Drama, Maths, Computing, Design Technology, PE, Welsh Baccalaureate, Languages and more. · Include tailored activities for Key Stages 3, 4, and 5, with adaptations for additional learning needs, youth work, primary and home education. · Support the HIV Action Plan for Wales and the Welsh Government’s RSE Code · Are built on accessibility, inclusion, and the lived experiences of people living with HIV · Have been co-created with clinicians, educators, young people, parents/carers and those living with HIV from Wales and beyond. Why this matters? HIV has changed dramatically over the last 40 years; from a life-threatening illness to a manageable condition but stigma and misinformation still exists. Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to challenge prejudice, build empathy, and empower young people to make informed, respectful choices. With these resources, Fast Track Cymru is working to ensure every young person, every educator, every setting in Wales can be part of the journey towards an inclusive, respectful and empowering environment for young people and their communities. |
| FILL THIS FORM TO ENTER THE COMPETITION AND SUBMIT YOUR PIECE HERE | DOWNLOAD RESOURCES IN ENGLISH HERE |
| DOWNLOAD THE INFORMATION PACK ABOUT THE COMPETITION HERE (Guidance for Parents, Carers and Education Providers) | DOWNLOAD RESOURCES IN WELSH HERE |
| DOWNLOAD THE EASY READ VERSION HERE | |
| DOWNLOAD THE INFORMATION PACK ABOUT THE COMPETITION HERE (Guidance for Young People and Students) | |
| Download the posters and information pack in Welsh Here | |
| Art Competition FAQs: – Who can enter? Any young person up to their 25th birthday who lives, works or studies in Wales – How do you enter? Fill in the online form: https://forms.office.com/r/K87fKJ7yky and send in your piece – photos, videos or the original are all welcome. Entries can be emailed, posted or in some cases we can collect your piece – please email us if you want more information – Why young people? It is estimated that over 3500 young people are growing up living with HIV across the UK. There are more young people who know someone who is living with HIV. It’s not just adults that are impacted. We are expecting almost all the entries to come from those who are aged 16 and over but wanted to ensure that no young person who wanted to take part was left out. We have also spoken with other organisations, youth workers, teachers and carers who felt that it was important to open this up to all age groups. HIV education is part of the Welsh HIV Action Plan and this competition links with our pioneering resources for all educators that went live on the 22nd September. Creating an entry for this competition is a catalyst for more conversations around HIV, health, respect, inclusion, wellbeing and more. Beyond that – HIV stigma continues to be a barrier to testing, treatment and prevention of HIV and education is a powerful tool in combatting stigma. HIV has changed dramatically over the last 40 years; from a life-threatening illness to a manageable condition but stigma and misinformation still exists. Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to challenge prejudice, build empathy, and empower young people to make informed, respectful choices. – When is the closing date? All entries and entry forms must be with us by 14th November 2025. -What are the other important dates? Judging will take place and finalists announced by the end of November. There will be an exhibition of some of the pieces at our World AIDS Day Reception at the Senedd on the 2nd December 2025 – What pieces can be submitted? Anything! If HIV is the focus, young people can create whatever they want. This could be painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, collages, poetry, spoken word, short films, the possibilities are almost endless. Young people could consider HIV: Past, present and/or future, HIV stigma, prevention and treatment, HIV stigma, the red ribbon symbol, hope, or anything else that connects with HIV. – Can pieces be submitted in Welsh? Yes, absolutely!! If anyone wishes to submit something in another language please email us fasttrackcities@hiv.wales – How about those with additional needs? It is of paramount importance to us that ALL young people have access to not just the art competition but also our resources which were launched on the 22nd September We have accessibility allowances as well as an award specifically for accessibility champion. Young people can work in groups, use tools and art forms which suit their needs and there is a question on the form around letting us know of any additional needs too. If you people need more support please get in touch and we will do all we can to help you – Can we have support? Absolutely. We have a trained youth worker (and retired teacher) who can come and support young people in creating work to be submitted, bring resources and use sessions as catalysts for conversations. Message us for more information and see if we can fit you in – What are the awards? We have prizes for the following categories as well as honourable mentions for different ages and more! Stigma Busting Award Creativity Award Accessibility Champion Award Educative Award Hope for the Future Award Overall Winner – Who are the judges? We have some exciting posts coming up about the judges, please keep watching on our socials to find out who will have the almost impossible task of deciding the winners – Who is funding this? We are incredibly grateful to Gilead who are funding this competition and the accompanying resources for all educators and all young people in Wales (and beyond) – Other information: HIV is a big topic and not an easy one to tackle and this competition is not making light of that. This competition is about expression, inclusion, and visibility. We want young people to enjoy creating their pieces but also hope that this competition will be a catalyst for conversations around wellbeing, HIV, stigma, respect and more. Every entry helps us to raise awareness of HIV, challenge HIV stigma and ensure that young people’s creativity is part of changing the narrative around HIV. |
Fast Track Cymru 