Dunmow Rotary Youth Competitions 2025/26

Dunmow Rotary Youth Competitions 2025/26

The following competitions are open to young people up to 17 on 31st August 2025.  Entries for Young Artist, Environmentalist, Photographer and Writer are welcome at any time in the year up to the deadline, which this year is Friday 13th February 2026.

1. Young Artist 2025-26. This competition is open to anyone from 5*-17 years old. The theme this year is 'Happiness in Nature'. (Closing date for entries is Friday 13th February 2026.)

2. Young Environmentalist 2024-25. This competition is open to anyone from 5*-17 years old. The theme this year is 'Happiness in Nature'. (Closing date for actual entries is Friday 13th February 2026, but the submission of an entry form is required by Friday 23rd January 2026.)

3. Young Photographer 2025-26. This competition is open to anyone from 5*-17 years old. The theme this year is 'Happiness in Nature'. (Closing date for entries is Friday 13th February 2026.)

4. Young Writer 2025-26. This competition is open to anyone from 5*-17 years old. Theme: Wonderful Water. (Closing date for entries is Friday 13th February 2026.)

5. Young Chef 2025-26.  This competition is open to any young chef from 11-17 years old. The key task is to prepare and cook a two course meal, main and desert, for two people in under two hours for less than £18.  

The Dunmow stage of the competition will be held on Sunday 18th January, 2026, at Helena Romanes School. (Note: The ingredients are to be supplied by the entrant along with the associated receipts.) (The closing date for Young Chef entry forms to be received is Friday 2nd January 2026.)

6. Young Musician 2025-26. This competition is open to anyone from 5*-17 years old.  This year’s competition will also include a local Young Composer section.  The date for the initial local competition is Sunday 16th November 2025, between 9am - 5pm, at Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow. The closing date for entries is Friday 31st October 2025.

* The competitions for those below 7 years of age are at a local level only.

Every year we hold an awards evening in May/June to which teachers and families are invited. All participants get a certificate and the winning entries receive a prize.  Winners of each competition and category are also invited to go onto the next stage of the national competitions.