A group of local young people from Splash Wiltshire, supported by local artist Fred Fieber, will be creating a colourful mural in the Exeter Street underpass in Salisbury this summer.
Young people have come together to co-design the mural which will feature wildlife that is found in and around the River Avon. The two-day project will be the second of its kind completed in Salisbury by Splash-Wiltshire. The first being the music icons piece near The Friary which was completed in 2016.
The young people, supported by staff and volunteers from Splash, will help draw and paint the mural in a bid to lighten and brighten the underpass. One young person said, “Splash has helped me be the person I am today. Splash days are great fun and I’m looking forward to the next time I can be involved. I always make friends and do fun, interesting things at Splash.”
Splash has been supporting Wiltshire’s young people for nearly 35 years and forms part of Youth Action Wiltshire, the ‘Youth Arm’ of Wiltshire charity Community First. The Splash team provide individualised 1 to 1 youth worker support, weekly term-time online group activities and face-to-face group activities at weekends and during school holidays for young people facing challenges in their lives including young victims of crime.
The Splash project has been supported by Salisbury Area Board and Salisbury City Council. However, the team is also reaching out to local shops and suppliers for any donations of materials and resources such as paint brushes, paint trays, protective gloves, paint and dust sheets. Splash worker Rachel explained, “This is a real community project and it would be wonderful to get local businesses involved in any way that we can.”
Anyone that can help or would like to find out more should email email hidden; JavaScript is required or call 01380 351364.
Youth Action Wiltshire works with young people aged 5-18 years in Wiltshire, with some support offered to young people in Swindon. The service offers intensive mentoring, coaching and skills training for young carers, young victims of crime and young people facing challenges in their lives.
Young people involved with Youth Action Wiltshire also take part in exciting adventure and respite activities during school holidays. Many of these activities such as camping, climbing, sailing, sports, crafts and conservation take place at Oxenwood Outdoor Education Centre and Linkenholt Countryside Adventure Centre, which are also operated by Community First.
Community First Chief Executive, Lynn Gibson, said, “We are really excited to be undertaking this community project once again in Salisbury. The benefits to those that are involved can and often are life-changing giving them the chance to make lasting friendships, build confidence and to believe in themselves. A very big thank you to everyone involved in enabling this project to take place.”
For more information about Youth Action Wiltshire and how you can get involved by supporting our work with young carers, young people facing challenges in their lives and young victims of crime, please visit the website www.communityfirst.org.uk/yaw or email email hidden; JavaScript is required.