Join the mission to keep antibiotics working!
We are inviting primary and secondary schools across Hampshire and Isle of Wight to take part in an exciting competition for World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week in 2025! This is your chance to inspire the next generation of Antibiotic Guardians, get creative in the classroom, and help raise awareness about drug-resistant infections and how we can all play a part in protecting the power of antibiotics.
Why It Matters:
Every year, more infections become harder to treat because of something called antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In 2019, 1.27 million deaths were linked to drug-resistant infections. If we don’t act now, this number could soar to 39 million by 2050. Antibiotics have saved millions of lives, but when they’re overused or misused, bacteria can learn to resist them. That means even common infections could become dangerous again.
Through this competition, we want children and young people to learn, create, and spread the message about why using antibiotics wisely is so important.
Let’s spread the word, not the resistance!
The Competition
Create a poster or comic strip that explains:
- How drug-resistant infections can happen
- How they might spread
- What the consequences could be
- Why it’s important to use antibiotics responsibly
Competition Categories:
There will be one winner and one runner-up for each category.
- Key Stage 1: Design a colourful, eye-catching poster using AndiBiotic, the UKHSA's new mascot, as your character!
- Key Stage 2: Design a colourful, eye-catching poster using AndiBiotic, the UKHSA's new mascot, as your character!
- Key Stage 3: Create your own “Horrible Histories” style comic strip to explain drug-resistant infections in a fun and memorable way.
- Key Stage 4: Create your own “Horrible Histories” style comic strip to explain drug-resistant infections in a fun and memorable way.
Why Take Part?
- A chance to win one of 4 x £100 vouchers for your school!
- The winning child or young person will receive a certificate, which can be awarded in assembly or as your school prefers (for example, the addition of 'house points')
- The winning posters will be used in an AMR awareness campaign during World AMR Week (November 2025) across Hampshire and Isle of Wight
- Both winners and runners-up submissions will be displayed on the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight website and social media
We encourage schools to integrate the free e-Bug resources (available for each of the 4 key stages) into lessons plans in the Autumn 2025 term.
Entry:
The deadline for entries is Friday 24 October 2025 and the winners will be announced by Thursday 7 November 2025. Terms and conditions apply.
By submitting entries, schools confirm that they have obtained explicit, written parental or guardian consent for each participating pupil, including permission for their work, first name, year group, and school name to be shared publicly (for example, on websites and social media).
Let your pupils’ creativity make a difference in the fight against antibiotic resistance!
Help us spread the message: #KeepAntibioticsWorking
Eligibility
The competition is open to pupils from participating schools in Hampshire and Isle of Wight, as invited by their local council representatives.
Entries
All entries must be original and created by the pupil(s) listed on the submission. Entries must be created by hand; digital or computer-generated designs will not be accepted. By submitting entries, schools confirm that they have obtained explicit, written parental or guardian consent for each participating pupil, including permission for their work, first name, year group, and school name to be shared publicly (e.g. on websites and social media).
Prizes
The school of each winning entry will receive a £100 voucher. This prize must be spent on one or more of the following:
- Health and wellbeing resources
- Science equipment
- A 'Healthy Schools' initiative
Schools need to confirm how the funds have been used, and to provide a brief summary or photographs for reporting purposes.
Individual Recognition
- Winning pupils will receive a certificate.
- Their work will be featured on NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) social media channels and website during World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) in November, to help raise awareness about the responsible use of antibiotics.
Judging and Selection
Entries will be judged by a panel appointed by our chief medical officer. The panel's decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Judging criteria:
- Clarity of message
- Creativity and originality
- Accuracy understanding
- Impact and audience appeal
- Presentation and effort
Use of Work
By entering, schools agree that submitted artwork may be used by NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight in digital and print materials to promote AMR awareness. These may remain in public use indefinitely unless a parent or school later requests removal (this can be done by emailing hiow.mot.ams@nhs.net), in which case we will take reasonable steps to comply. Pupils' first names, school names, and year groups will be used alongside the artwork.
Data Protection
Personal data will be handled in accordance with data protection regulations and will only be used for the purposes of this competition for a period of time up to six months after the competition closes. For queries or concerns regarding data protection, please contact the ICB’s Data Protection Officer via hiowicb-hsi.hsiow-dpo@nhs.net.
Accessibility
If any pupils require additional support to take part, schools are encouraged to contact us on hiow.mot.ams@nhs.net to discuss reasonable adjustments.
General
We reserve the right to amend these terms at any time or to withdraw the competition if necessary.