Children across Birmingham and the West Midlands are being offered the chance to win art materials in a competition to picture their favourite moment.

The winners and runners-up will also see their artwork featured in a special month-long exhibition at a popular Birmingham café.

Organised by John Taylor Hospice in partnership with Oikos Café on Erdington High Street, the Moments that Matter competition is open to children aged 11 or under.

Youngsters are being urged to draw, paint or colour special moments as part of the hospice’s work to encourage families to discuss what matters to them.

John Taylor Hospice Head of Community Engagement Mark Jones said: “Our hospice’s motto is every moment matters so we would like children across the region to create a picture of their special moment. It could be a collage of their favourite holiday, a drawing of their pet, a painting of their family or simply a picture of something they love to do.

“We are looking forward to seeing these special moments which are what make life so worthwhile. As a hospice we are there for people as they approach the end of their lives and we also encourage everyone we care for to celebrate their lives – and all their special moments.”

The Moments that Matter competition has been launched by the hospice as part of the Birmingham-wide festival A Matter of Life and Death which aims to encourage people of all ages to have open and honest conversations about living and dying.

Erdington High Street’s Oikos Café will host the exhibition featuring the winning artwork during the month of May. The winners will also be invited to a special Café Arts Evening of Creativity at Oikos Café on Friday 17 May from 6pm where their prizes will be presented.

Oikos Centre Manager Ben Jeffrey said: “We are really looking forward to hosting the exhibition during May. We know from our creative sessions here at Oikos that children and young people can create amazing works of art and we are delighted to be able to share their achievements with the local community. Their pictures will be on view to café visitors during our opening hours and we look forward to welcoming the children, their families and their schools to see their art on our walls.”

Closing date for the competition is Wednesday 24 April. Entry forms are downloadable from the hospice website and are also available at Oikos Café, John Taylor Hospice charity shops and the hospice reception. For more information and full terms and conditions see www.johntaylorhospice.org.uk