Rules & Guidelines

1. Eligibility

Teams of young people aged 11-16 under adult supervision (from teachers and facilitators) may enter the challenge. Individuals may also enter providing they have secured permission from parent, teacher or guardian.

2. Rules

• All work must be original and created by the entrant (team or young person).
• Each team/young person may submit one entry.
• Entries must list Team name, age(s)/year group(s), school/organisation name and postcode.
• Deadline for submissions is 27/02/2026 at 4pm and late or incomplete entries will not be judged.
• By entering, teams/young people grant the organisers permission to display their work in exhibitions, websites, or school materials (Team name + ages + organisation only).
• No personal contact details of any young person may appear on submissions.
• The organisers reserve the right to display the submitted materials, either digitally or in physical exhibitions.

3. Judging Criteria

Judges will assess entries based on the following criteria:

1. Creativity & Originality

Is the idea imaginative, surprising, or forward-thinking?

2. Communication & Clarity

Does the visual + explanation clearly communicate the future world experience?

3. Fit to the theme

Does the idea respond well to the chosen theme?

4. Impact & Relevance

Does the idea reflect AI enabled improvement to lives, communities, or the environment?

5. Presentation Quality

Is the work finished and well made?

4. What You Need to Submit

• Teams or young people talking part will need submission access codes from their teacher/facilitator. Individuals not submitting via a school or youth organisation MUST have parental / guardian consent to submit their work.
• Submission will include: The final work, a 200-word description, the completed submission form and a thumbnail image representing the work.
• There will be no physical submissions. Digital submissions (including photographs or scans of physical work) to be made via the hopefulfutures.ai website by 4pm on 27/02/2026.

5. Awards & Recognition

Awards will include:

• Certificates for all finalists
• "Future AI Visionary" badges
• Virtual exhibition of entries
• Physical exhibition of selected entries in Newcastle City Library and other locations
• Selected entries may also be showcased in future promotional materials, publications and press releases

6. Safeguarding & Permissions

• Schools/youth groups/individuals are responsible for ensuring parental/guardian consent is secured.
• Only student first names, ages, and schools/youth organisations will be publicly displayed, no personally identifying material to be included in the submitted artifact.
• Organisers may remove entries containing inappropriate content.