UPDATE: A festive competition for children across the West Midlands has resulted in a heartwarming win for Marnie Bernard, a 7-year-old student from The Oratory Roman Catholic Primary School in Ladywood, Birmingham. Marnie’s captivating Christmas card design, featuring gloved hands holding a heart-shaped snowball, has been selected as the winning entry for the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) West Midlands Regional Research Delivery Network (WM RRDN).
The announcement was made just moments ago, stirring excitement among local schools and parents. Marnie’s design will be featured on the organization’s Christmas card sent annually to around 200 recipients, including 130 schools and 60 researchers and stakeholders.
In a close contest, Marnie outshone her fellow student, Deborah Chibueze, aged 9, who took second place with her own creative entry. Alicja Jablonska, an 8-year-old from St Matthews CE (Aided) Primary School and Nursery Centre in Telford, secured the third spot. Each winner was awarded vouchers, with Marnie receiving a £20 voucher and her school a £100 voucher, while Deborah and Alicja both earned £10 vouchers.
Organiser Amy Stringer, a Research Facilitator at WM RRDN, expressed her delight: “We received 177 entries from children aged 4-11 across the West Midlands. An independent panel shortlisted these to 20 entries, and from there, our team voted for their favorite. The creativity and festive spirit displayed in the final designs made selecting a winner incredibly challenging.”
Marnie’s mother, Nicola Restall, shared her pride, stating, “I am thrilled she has won this competition, as she worked very hard on her design. This win will greatly boost her confidence.”
Meanwhile, the Head of School, Shannon Ryan, celebrated the achievement of her students, saying, “I am overjoyed to have two of my girls in the top spots. It is evident that we have potential future artists and designers at The Oratory. Congratulations to Marnie and Deborah, and thank you to the RDN for organizing such a fantastic opportunity.”
This year’s competition highlights the WM RRDN’s commitment to engaging with local schools and fostering creativity among students. As they look forward to future competitions, the community eagerly anticipates more festive celebrations in 2026.
Stay tuned for more updates on this inspiring story that showcases the incredible talent of young artists in the West Midlands!
