• Youngsters from across the north invited to submit entries for national Carbon Monoxide awareness creative competition
• Entries should be accurate, eye catching and informative
• Nationwide competition – which offers cash prizes – is now in its tenth year

 Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the gas distributer for the north of England, northern Cumbria and much of Yorkshire is calling young artists and creative kids to enter an annual creative competition to design a form of media warning of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO).

Open to UK schoolchildren in key stages 1 and 2 (ages 5 to 11), the competition asks pupils to produce an informative poster, poem, video, cartoon or newspaper report which warns of the dangers of CO poisoning and how to avoid them.

The competition launches on Wednesday 11 January 2017 and winners of the northern area round, which will include youngsters from across NGN’s network, will then go forward to the national round and a prize-giving held at the Palace of Westminster.

The 2016 winners from the Northern Area pictured at the Palace of Westminster with NGN’s Tom Bell and Barry Sheerman MP.

The timetable for the competition is as follows:

Wednesday 11 January 2017 – Competition launched and open for entry submissions

Friday 5 May 2017 – Closing date for entries

W/C Monday 15 May and Monday 22 May 2017 – Local judging

W/C Monday 29 May and Monday 5 June 2017 – National judging

W/C Monday 19 June and Monday 26 June – Prize Giving Event in the Palace of Westminster

Known as the silent killer because it cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, Carbon Monoxide is responsible for deaths, illness and hospitalisations each year.

First launched in 2007, the competition was previously run by charity CO-Gas Safety in partnership with the UK gas distribution networks (GDNs), but this year the GDNs, including Northern Gas Networks, have taken over the running of the competition.

The final will be judged at a presentation at the Palace of Westminster, and entrants stand a chance of winning the following prizes:

• National Winner: Winner will receive £300 for themselves and £600 for their school/organisation*
• Area Winner: Winners will receive £150 each and £300 for their school/organisation (which can include uniformed organisations such as Scouts, Brownies and Guides etc)

*National prize will be in addition to the area prize

Tom Bell, Head of Social Strategy for NGN said: “At NGN we take the safety of customers very seriously so it is a pleasure to be involved in spreading such a vitally important message about the danger of CO.

“This toxic gas can be deadly, so engaging school children through art is a great way to raise awareness and hopefully educate whole families too.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to have some fun, exercise their creative talents and have a chance of winning some great prizes while relaying an important safety message.”

Entries can be emailed to COschoolcompetition@energynetworks.org by Friday 5 May 2017.

For further information including key dates see http://bit.ly/COSchoolSafetyComp

For Terms & Conditions see http://www.energynetworks.org/assets/files/news/releases-and-news/Terms_Conditions_GDN_CO_SchoolSafetyCompetition2017.pdf

More information on gas safety and how to get domestic and commercial appliances checked and installed by qualified engineers is also available at www.gassaferegister.co.uk/

Anyone who smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency helpline on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.