Worcestershire youngsters go to the wall to beat graffiti artists

11:50am Sunday 31st May 2009

By Claire Fry

YOUNGSTERS have helped transform a graffiti-covered wall in a Droitwich park into a work of art.

A large section of wall in Lido Park has been painted with a mural depicting summer and autumn.

Children from the Prince’s Trust Team 122 Bromsgrove and Worcester College of Technology were joined by Community Support Officer for Droitwich Town East Andrea Leslie to paint the wall.

She said: “We very much hope that those youngsters who have been, and will be, involved in this unique team effort will, literally, take ownership of the mural and ensure it is respected for a long time to come.

“Those involved in the first phase have worked so hard, learnt many skills and have had such a great time.”

Over five days the team, complete with two artists, tackled the project encouraged by the Annable family who own the wall which separates their garden from the park.

The 12-week self-development programme is for 16 to 24-year-olds who are out of education and employment and looking to re-engage and gain essential skills enabling them to either gain employment or places in education.

The community project and team challenge phases of the programme aim to get the team involved with their local communities and mix with groups of people that they might not necessarily come into contact with on a regular basis.

The second phase – involving St Peter’s School and Droitwich High School painting the two missing seasons of autumn and winter – is set to follow later in the year.

The ground-breaking project is funded jointly by Droitwich local policing unit, the Police Community Fund and Wychavon District Council’s Arts in the Park scheme, which is sponsored by its park maintenance contractors Fountain Support Services.

Prince’s Trust team leader Charlie Dean said: “We are really excited to have been involved in such an important project in the local community.

“The team have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the project, from the planning through to the painting of the wall.”

Artists Kate and Jo DeBurgh are from PLANET, which uses materials from Worcester Resources Ex-change.

They said they wanted to build awareness and confidence, and enable individuals to understand they each played a role in protecting the planet.