Christmas Card | Abena Oppong-Asare MP

Winner of My Christmas Card Competition 2024

I am delighted to announce the successful conclusion of my Christmas Card Competition 2024 for Erith and Thamesmead.

This annual competition invites schools from across our constituency to take part. The theme for this year was “What makes Erith and Thamesmead a fun place?” As always, I would like to thank our fantastic students across the constituency who illustrated designs that show what they feel makes our constituency the fun place it is. This included parks, open spaces, shops, and local landmarks.

The artwork was assessed by a panel of judges, and I used the winning design as my Christmas Card this year, which was sent to over 1000 local people, businesses, and community groups. I also sent my card to the Prime Minister as well as many of my colleagues in the Houses of Parliament.

As has been the case in previous years we had a fantastic turnout from our enthusiastic students with many great designs being sent in. I would like to thank the schools, teachers, and parents who dedicated time to help organise the competition.

Congratulations to this year’s winner, Vera, aged 10, from St Thomas a Becket Primary School. You can see me photographed with Vera, her winning published card and her Head Teacher Mrs Cooper.

*Abena visiting this year’s winner, Vera, at St Thomas a Becket Primary School*

In Vera’s description of her design, she wrote.

“I chose to draw this picture because whenever I go to Erith, I love to see the bright patterns on all the fish. I decided to start improving my art and create something special; I made a drawing based on Christmas. I am very proud of the art I have created from my artistic imagination, and I hope you will like it too.”

It is safe to say not only did we like it but I and the rest of the constituency absolutely loved it!

It was a pleasure visiting St Thomas a Becket Primary School, too. Many students asked me brilliant questions about my political career and journey. It is reassuring to know we have students in our constituency who, despite their youth, have a great interest in Politics.

Attached here is me meeting the Speaker of the House of Commons. He was impressed by the high quality of the design and put it on display in his office!

*Abena presenting the winning design to the Speaker of the House of Commons*

With special thanks to the sponsors of my card who backed this year’s competition – including Edible Oils Limited, Manak Solicitors, Lumbini Grocery, Aum Trading Wholesale, Red Lion Noodle Bar and Greenwich Mummies Forum.

Abena’s Christmas Card 2024:

30th December 2024

Christmas Card, Community, Events

Winner of My Christmas Card Competition 2023

I am once again very pleased to announce that I’ve been holding a constituency competition to design my annual Christmas Card for 2023. I invited students from schools across Erith and Thamesmead to take part.

The theme for this year was: ‘What Makes Me Happy in Erith and Thamesmead’. I would like to thank all the pupils who drew and painted a design that showed what they love about places in our constituency. This included the parks or open spaces, local communities, shops, landmarks, animals or even family and friends.

The artwork was assessed by a panel of judges, and the winning design has been used as my Christmas Card and sent to more than 1,000 local people, businesses, and community groups.

We had a brilliant turnout for this competition with so many excellent designs being sent in. I’d also like to say a massive thank you to all the schools, teachers and parents who helped organise the competition.

Attached is a photo of me meeting with the Speaker of the House to showcase the winning design, he was very impressed by the competition and has put the winning design on display!

Congratulations to this year’s winner, Mija Liumpa, aged 10, from Parkway Primary School. You can see Mija and myself below with her winning design.

To complement the design, Mija wrote a few words:

“I chose to draw this as it reminds me of nature and the mulberry tree of Abbey Wood ruins. It is an amazing place which calms me, and I can meet many dogs there which is also why I chose to draw them. It is one of my favourite places of calmness and my favourite place in Erith.”

It was great to visit the students of Parkway Primary School in person this week, and hand Mija her well-deserved prize as overall winner of the competition.

Thanks also to the local co-sponsors who kindly supported part of this year’s competition – Co-op Belvedere and Manak Solicitors.

Congratulations again to Mija and I wish a Merry Christmas to all.

21st December 2023

Arts and Culture, Christmas Card, Events, Young People

Winner of My Christmas Card Competition 2022

Winner of My Christmas Card Competition 2021

This year, I’ve been holding a constituency competition to design my Christmas Card for 2021. I invited students from schools across Erith and Thamesmead to take part and I was so pleased to see such a positive response.

The theme for this year is: ‘Love Erith and Thamesmead: portraits of local landmarks.’ I asked pupils to draw or paint somewhere special to them and our local community.

I want to thank all the pupils who made submissions. These included drawings of the Thamesmead Clock Tower, Crossness Pumping Station, the walks along the River Thames, and Erith Pier.

After being assessed by a panel of judges, the winning design was used as my Christmas Card and sent to more than 1,000 local people, businesses, and community groups.

We had a great turnout for the competition with so many excellent designs being sent in. I’d also like to say a massive thank you to all the schools, teachers and parents who helped organise the competition.

Congratulations to this year’s winner, Alexandra Okwara, aged 10, from St Fidelis Catholic Primary School.

Writing about why she chose her design, Alexandra wrote:

“I have drawn the fish roundabout (The de Luci Landmark Gateway sculpture) because the roundabout shows me that I am in Erith and that the fish are very important to the local community.”

Inside the card, I wrote a bit about how challenging the last year has been and sent my best to all as we go into 2022.

Thank you also to Greenwich GMB Branch and Greenwich Union Local Government Branch for their kind contributions to the cost of this card.

20th December 2021

Christmas Card, Community, Events

Winner of My Christmas Card Competition 2020

At the end of this incredibly challenging year, I was pleased to organise a constituency competition to design my Christmas Card for 2020. The competition was open to students and children across the constituency and the theme for this year was key workers from Erith and Thamesmead who are special to you.

There were some great designs accompanied by important messages by the students about why they chose their key workers. The designs included carers, teachers, NHS staff and key employees at our local businesses – all having made such an important difference during this difficult past year. You can see all the winning designs below.

The designs for the card were chosen by a panel of judges and the card has now been sent to hundreds of residents and businesses across our constituency. I’d also like to say a massive thank you to all the schools, teachers and parents who helped organise the competition. We had a great turnout with so many excellent designs being sent in.

Inside the card, I also shared my message to our community acknowledging the incredibly challenging year we have faced and wishing everyone a healthy and hopeful 2021. You can read my comments below.