Day: April 28, 2026

Grand DÉpart GB launches poster design competition for students

GRAND DÉPART GB LAUNCHES POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION FOR STUDENTS

  • Competition launched to design the official posters for each of the 2027 Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift stages
  • Further and higher education students in host areas have the opportunity to enter a once-in-a-lifetime competition to kick-start their creative careers
  • The UK’s staging of the men’s and women’s races in 2027 marks the first time both Grand Départs have taken place in the same country outside France

Art, design and creative students from across England, Scotland, and Wales have the chance to showcase their talents, with the opportunity to design the official posters for the historic 2027 Grand Départs of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

Launched as part of the Grand Départ GB’s JOY social impact programme, students enrolled on art, design, graphics, creative and photography courses at further and higher education institutions across the local authority areas hosting each of the six stages can enter a competition that will ultimately select the official poster for the 2027 edition of each race.

It is a long-standing tradition that each edition of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is represented by its own unique official poster, unveiled each October in Paris as part of ASO’s official route presentation for the following year’s races. As proud hosts of the 2027 Grand Départ, Britain has the honour of designing both posters – and Grand Départ GB is extending that opportunity to students.

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will showcase the skills of UK-based designers at the world’s biggest annual sporting spectacle, when it comes to Britain in July 2027, marking the first occasion that both races have begun from the same country outside of France. 

Used across the entire event, the artworks will be seen by millions, both on the roadside and worldwide, with the artwork being used by race organisers the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) across promotional materials, digital advertising and much more, making for an incredible opportunity for two students to truly go global with their work.

The competition is the first part of the JOY programme’s Arts & Culture strand to go live, with further opportunities for different communities to get involved and celebrate the Grand Départs creatively to follow.

Commenting on the competition, Tracy Power, on behalf of JOY, the Grand Départ GB 2027 social impact programme, said; “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for two talented students to showcase their creative skills on a truly global platform, and to forever be associated with this historic Grand Départ.

“The competition reflects the ambitions we have for JOY to be at the front and centre of the 2027 Grand Départ and we can’t wait to see the creativity of students and their submissions.”

An expert panel, headed by award winning artist Lucy Pittaway will judge the submissions. Shortlists for both the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will be put forward by the Grand Départ GB 2027 panel to ASO, who will select the final winners for each race and then work with them to develop their designs ahead of the October reveal in Paris.

Lucy Pittaway, a former graphic designer and teacher, who has been recognised with several awards, including ‘UK’s Most Popular Published Artist’ in 2018, 2019, and 2022 by the Fine Art Trade Guild, said; “I’m absolutely delighted to be part of the judging panel.

“Cycling has long been a source of inspiration in my work, and art has a unique power to capture the emotion, movement and stories behind these iconic races.

“Supporting emerging talent as they interpret such a historic moment for cycling across England, Scotland and Wales is truly exciting, and I’m honoured to help celebrate creativity at this level.”

In addition to having their work showcased across the Grand Départs, both winning designers will be invited to Paris in October 2026 for the official unveiling of their work during ASO’s route presentation of the 2027 races and enjoy a hospitality experience at one of next year’s British stages.

The competition will open from Monday 4 May until 5pm on Friday 26 June 2026.

Full details, including terms and conditions and how to enter, are available at: www.letourgb.com/poster-competition

To find out more and stay up to date with the 2027 Grand Départs, including more information opportunities to volunteer, ahead of the opening of volunteer registration at the end of May 2026, visit letourgb.com

PICTURES: ASO

Poverty Alliance: Voters should not be disenfranchised by deprivation

Campaigners say tens of thousands of people on low incomes are at risk of being ‘disenfranchised by deprivation’ in the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections.

New research by the Poverty Alliance has found an 11% gap in voter turnout at the last Scottish elections between the top and bottom 10 constituencies in terms of deprivation.

The charity is calling on politicians to close that ‘democratic deficit’ by supporting community get-out-the-vote campaigns – and by delivering on policies that close inequality and lift people out of poverty.

Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “Our democracy can only work when politicians listen and act on people’s priorities. When that doesn’t happen, people lose trust in the system and simply stop participating.

“For years people in Scotland have put issues around the cost of living and the economy near the top of their political priorities. But lack of fundamental change has led to a democratic deficit, with people in areas of higher deprivation losing faith in the process more quickly.

“We regularly work with people struggling on low incomes. They are often highly political, with strong views about what is needed in their communities, in our society, and in our unjust economy. But they increasingly feel disenfranchised from a political process that is failing to address deprivation, poverty, and inequality. That has to change.”

The Poverty Alliance research found that in 2021 the average turnout in the 10 least deprived Scottish Parliament seats was 68%. In the 10 most deprived constituencies it was just 57%. That amounts to a gap of more than 60,300 voters.

The biggest democratic deficit was found between Glasgow Maryhill & Springburn with a turnout of 52%, compared to a 76% turnout in Eastwood. If the Glasgow seat had matched that level an additional 13,300 voters would have went to the polls there.

If the 10 most deprived seats had matched the turnout in Eastwood, an extra 108,000 votes would have been cast.

The Poverty Alliance has more than 450 members organisations across Scotland. It has created ‘Vote Your Values’ campaign materials that those groups can use to help people in their communities get registered to vote, and to get to cast their ballot on election day.

Peter Kelly said: “There is evidence that get-out-the-vote campaigns can help decrease the democratic deficit in communities, and we’d like to see greater support for them from political leaders for future elections.

“But the biggest thing politicians can do to help strengthen our democracy is to invest in a better future free from the threat of hunger, debt and destitution, where each of us has what we need to build a more secure life for ourselves and our households, and a better society for everyone.”

The Poverty Alliance manifesto calls for progress towards a Minimum Income Guarantee – which would give everyone the right to an income that never falls below what is needed for life’s essentials. The policy would be delivered through a combination of fair paid work, high quality services, and strengthened social security.

The charity says new MSPs can commit to piloting the approach among unpaid carers and in rural areas. And it calls for policy steps along the road to a full Guarantee, including encouraging and incentivising employers to deliver fair work with real Living Wages, raising the Scottish Child Payment to £55 a week by 2030, and investing in home energy efficiency and affordable heating to cut people’s energy bills.

The-Poverty-Alliance-2026-Scottish-Parliament-Election-ManifestoDownload