In March 2020 amid the coronavirus and blood shortages, the United Kingdom Thalassaemia Society (UKTS) started its’ first global art competition for children. Our main aims were to encourage children and adults to understand the importance of donating blood in their respective countries around the world and to raise awareness of thalassaemia. In 2020, UKTS received over 293 entries from 47 countries. Following the positive message of the competition, it’s success and global unity, the board of trustees decided to make it an annual event. The competition had many fans and supporters and one of which was Silence Therapeutics (a pharmaceutical company who is currently conducting clinical trials in thalassaemia) offered to sponsor the event. Following feedback from our global community in 2020, UKTS extended the competition to include adults of all ages to ensure inclusivity. There were 654 entries submitted from 55 countries. Due to the exceedingly high standards of entries submitted, the UKTS board added on an additional 13 prizes (called trustees awards) to the original 12. This new year we are back with a bigger and improved version based on YOUR comments. Not only have we changed the theme and increased the number of prizes, we also have included another category (poetry) to the previous art competition. There are also 5 age groups! (3-5, 6-9, 10-12, 13-16 and 17+) and 30 prizes to be to be won in total- 15 in each category! The competition is being sponsored by Silence Therapeutics for the third year! This year’s theme is: A Whole New World! Why did we choose this theme? Coronavirus has been difficult for everyone, and we thought this year we should focus on the things that make our hearts and lives happier. What are some of the things you look forward to achieving, doing, designing, playing in this new year- do you have any new hobbies? Whether you draw or write about your aspirations of going to the moon or things you would like to eat or do- we are all in! Let’s share some positivity this year and display what some of our dreams are! Ps: if donating blood is one of those things or finding out about thalassaemia- we will accept this too! Are you ready to create a masterpiece?

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