Written by Eleri Bryon Welsh Language Officer

PrideTEC 2026 brought colour, creativity and powerful messages of inclusion to centres across Wales this June. Learners and staff came together for a two‑day celebration of Pride, allyship and LGBTQIA+ visibility. They explored what Pride means to them and shared those ideas through art, storytelling and videos, contributing to two organisation wide competitions – Creative Pride and the PrideTEC video.

Across Itec, every centre got involved, producing imaginative, thoughtful work that showcased a deep understanding of Pride, allyship and inclusion. From bold artwork and mixed‑media pieces to moving narratives and polished video production, learners demonstrated exceptional creativity, collaboration and passion.

🥇Creative Pride Winner – Cwmbran

🥈Creative Pride Runner Up – Blackwood

🥇Creative Pride Winner – Cwmbran

📽️ PrideTEC Video

Learners produced one learner‑created video, recommended at 2 to 3 minutes. Videos could explore what PrideTEC means to learners, messages of allyship, what makes their centre inclusive, or what they’ve learned. They could use voiceovers, captions, artwork, text or still images.

Shortlist:

• Barry
• Blackwood
• Bridgend
• Cardiff West
• Neath
• Newport

Runner up:

Bridgend

Winner:

Barry🎉

🥇PrideTEC Winner – Barry

Judge’s Comments

This year’s PrideTEC entries were judged by Sian Wain, Lead Tutor, and Ian Timbrell, founder of More Than Flags and Rainbows. Together, they reviewed the creativity, impact and messages of inclusion expressed across all centres.

Sian Wain reflected on the outstanding standard of work submitted this year:

“Judging the PrideTEC entries this year was incredibly rewarding, but also very challenging due to the outstanding quality across the board. Every centre clearly put in a tremendous amount of effort, and each submission had its own unique identity and creativity. It was difficult to choose, which is why we brought in additional support from Ian. In my eyes, every one of you deserved to win.”

Ian Timbrell brought a powerful perspective through his work with More Than Flags and Rainbows, a charity dedicated to tackling bullying and discrimination in schools and colleges. The organisation delivers training, workshops and resources that help learners and staff understand allyship, challenge harmful behaviour and create safer, more inclusive learning environments.

Ian spoke about the strength of the learners’ voices:

“I was blown away and really impressed by every single entry… If more people listened to the people who made those entries, then the world would be a much kinder place.”

He also highlighted why Pride remains essential:

“There’s a misconception that Pride is a celebration, and we should always remember that it is a protest… While we’ve reached legal equality, we haven’t reached societal equality.”

Further Reflections

As PrideTEC 2026 came to a close, our Area Manager and LGBTQIA+ Lead, Billy Pearce, reflected on the impact of this year’s event and the powerful creativity shown across all centres. He shared how deeply moved he was by the messages of allyship, hope, and solidarity expressed by learners:

“I remain inspired by the compassion, courage, and solidarity shown by our learners and colleagues every day. They remind me that there is still hope, kindness, and happiness in the world and that together, we can continue to make a difference.”

A Celebration of Hope, Creativity and Allyship

PrideTEC 2026 showcased the best of our learners, their creativity, courage, teamwork and commitment to making their centres welcoming for all. From artwork and poetry to powerful video storytelling, learners demonstrated what inclusion looks like in practice: listening to each other, celebrating difference and standing together as allies. It was a powerful reflection of Itec’s core value of Inclusion, brought to life by learners across centres.