A beautiful mural now stands proudly in Worcester city centre, designed and created by young people, to brighten up an area known for anti-social behaviour.
The project, delivered by Worcester BID in partnership with Worcester Community Trust, Light Box and Worcestershire County Council, offered weekly creative sessions for 11 to 17‑year‑olds throughout the school holidays.
Young people were supported by youth engagement officers and took part in a mix of creative activities and sport. The aim was to give young people positive opportunities during the summer while involving them directly in designing artwork to transform a city‑centre hotspot for anti‑social behaviour.
From September, after‑school sessions continued with Light Box, giving young people the chance to develop their ideas further and contribute to the installation of the Wall of Hope. Creative packs were also produced so Light Box could continue running self‑led workshops throughout the year, supporting wellbeing and encouraging ongoing participation.
The project reached large numbers of young people across the city, with 100 attending sessions in Warndon, 50 in Ronkswood, and 70 in Worcester City Centre. Young people from Worcester Community Trust hubs, Nunnery Wood High School and Light Box all contributed to the final installation.
Partners described the project as a powerful example of how creativity can support prevention and early intervention.
West Mercia Police said: “Projects like the Wall of Hope installation that help young people take an active role in being agents of community transformation can be very powerful. Empowering young people to know they can be the agents of positive change in their communities.”
Schools also praised the impact on pupils. One school shared: “Our students absolutely loved taking part and are really keen to be involved in more projects to support our communities in Worcester.”
The Wall of Hope project has helped young people feel valued, creative, and connected, while contributing to a safer, more welcoming city environment.
If you have a creative idea to boost wellbeing in your community, you can apply for a public health grant via our website: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/communitygrants