Budding young artists from the armed forces community in Helensburgh and Lomond are being encouraged to design a mascot for the Forces Children Scotland charity.

The nationwide competition aims to foster creativity among participants while enabling them to express their identities as forces children.

Submissions will close on April 29, in line with the conclusion of the charity’s Month of the Military Child campaign.

Laura Falconer, chief executive officer of Forces Children Scotland, said: "We are delighted to launch a campaign to encourage young artists from armed forces communities across Scotland to design a mascot for our charity.

"Forces Children Scotland puts the lived experience of children from this community at the heart of everything it does, so it’s very exciting to hand creative control into their hands to come up with something that represents what it means to be a forces child today."

The charity encourages participants to reflect on military themes, colours, and the difference between forces life compared to their civilian peers.

Participants have the freedom to choose a creative medium that illustrates their ideas.

The competition will be segmented into three age categories, each with its own winners and prizes.

The overall winning design will not only feature on the charity's website and resources, but it will also spearhead promotional campaigns.

For more information about the competition and to submit your designs, see tinyurl.com/forceschildrenscotlandmascot.