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Children aged 2 & 10 years win competition to design chancellor's Christmas card

11 December 2009

CONTACT: DAYCARE TRUST PRESS OFFICE, 020 7840 3350, OUT OF HOURS 07973 291 112

Daniel Lee, a 2 year old boy from Appleton, Warrington, and Lucy Waller, a 10 year old girl from St Neots, Cambs, have won a competition held today at Number 11 Downing Street by the Daycare Trust in association with The Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP. The competition was to design the official Christmas card which he and his wife, Maggie Darling, will use this year. The cards - one a hard copy card and one an e-card - will be sent to people in the UK and across the world.

Maggie Darling presented the winners with their trophy and a prize of £50, while their childcare/out of school club received a voucher for books and art materials. All of the younger children also received a goodie bag including Fifi and the Flowertots and Roary the Racing Car gifts.

The judging panel attended to meet the finalists including Keith Chapman (Originator of Bob the Builder, Fifi Forget-Me-Not and co-creator of Roary the Racing Car), Naomi Wilkinson (Five's Milkshake! presenter) plus other Five Milkeshake! and Shake presenters and VIP guests including Fifi Forget-Me-Not and Big Chris from Roary the Racing Car. The competition was kindly supported by The Children's Mutual.

Keith Chapman said:

"I was really impressed with the standard of entries this year. It is great to see British kids being so creative and imaginative at such a young age, and I am proud to champion such a fantastic charity which supports childcare in the UK."

Maggie Darling said:

"I want to offer my congratulations to the competition winners. The quality of all entries was incredibly high, and all the children should be really proud of what they've achieved. Alistair and I are really pleased with our Christmas card designs."

Rita Stringfellow, Chair of Daycare Trust, said:

"DaycareTrust was delighted to be involved in the Chancellor's Christmas card competition and we are extremely grateful to Maggie Darling for hosting the awards party at Number 11 where the finalists came together at a fun event to find out which of the finalists designs were chosen by the chancellor and his wife to be used as their official Christmas card and e-card. The high quality of the entries showed incredible imagination and creativity, in line with Daycare Trust's vision of high quality childcare which is also fun and engaging."

• Copies of the two winning entries are attached.
• Photos from the awards party are available on request from Brooke Lumicisi at blumicisi@daycaretrust.org.uk.  

Details of the competition:

There were two categories in the competition: children aged 2-7 years and children aged 8-14 years (16 years for disabled children). Children were able make their card by hand, using pencils, crayons and craft materials - but it was the child's ideas and imagination that really counted.

Pre-school and Infants (2-7 years): What Christmas means to me

Younger children are asked to design a Christmas card to show us what Christmas means to them. When designing the card the children were asked to think about:

• Family
• Decorations
• Sharing
• Eating
• Weather
• Celebrations
• Togetherness

Juniors and Seniors (8-14 years): Giving at Christmas

Older children and young people were asked to design an e-card incorporating the theme ‘giving at Christmas'. The card will be sent out electronically to the Chancellor's overseas contacts.

-Ends-

For further press information please contact:

Emma Carr on 0207 840 3375 (ecarr@daycaretrust.org.uk)

 or Celia Joseph, 0207 840 3383 (cjoseph@daycaretrust.org.uk)

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Notes to Editors

Daycare Trust

Daycare Trust is the national childcare charity, campaigning for quality affordable accessible childcare for all and raising the voices of children, parents and carers.  We advise parents and carers, providers, employers, trade unions and policymakers on childcare issues.  We recognise that everyone is unique and we value difference in our communities.  We listen to all views and are committed to act without prejudice. 

Daycare Trust runs an Information Line  on 0845 872 6251, open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10.00am-1.00pm and 2.00pm-5.00pm, Wed 2.00pm-5.00pm (only). Parents can also visit www.daycaretrust.org.uk and www.payingforchildcare.org.uk for information.

Daycare Trust is a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, www.ecpc.org.uk.

The Children's Mutual - Home of the Child Trust Fund
The Children's Mutual's mission is to help parents, grandparents, family and friends fulfil their hopes for today's children. We offer a range of savings plans, which are specially designed to do this, by combining the benefits of our 127-year heritage as a trusted mutual society with the latest financial expertise.

The Children's Mutual is a trading name of the Tunbridge Wells Equitable Group.  The Children's Mutual provides information about products of the Tunbridge Wells Equitable Group only. www.thechildrensmutual.co.uk.

Chapman Entertainment

Chapman Entertainment was formed in 2002 and is a rapidly growing company specialising in the creation, production and IP management of original, quality children's and family entertainment properties. Founded by Keith Chapman, Greg Lynn and Andrew Haydon, the company has created two successful stop-frame animation programmes called Fifi and the Flowertots and Roary the Racing Car, both airing on Five's Milkshake! and Nick Jr. For more information, visit, www.chapmanentertainment.co.uk.

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