Young people have used graffiti art to produce a mural of local community heroes on a bus shelter in Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent, as they work to make a positive difference to their community,
The young people involved are part of Blaenau Gwent Council’s Youth Service’s Positive Futures group. The mural came about after the group were engaged on what they believed could be positive activities to help divert young people away from becoming involved with anti-social behaviour in the area. They expressed an interest in graffiti art that could be used in a positive way.
The mural project is part of a wider initiative, a new Anti-Social Behaviour Taskforce led by Blaenau Gwent Council in partnership with the Youth Service, Gwent Police and Tai Calon Community Housing. The Taskforce is connecting with local communities to address concerns about anti-social behaviour committed by people of all ages, supporting people in reporting it and working to tackle some of the underlaying causes.
After running an online poll, the young people chose Jack and Richard Shore to feature on the mural, a father and son who are well known and respected for their work with Mixed Martial Arts in the community. Jack Shore, from Abertillery, is a Welsh professional mixed martial arts who currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). His dad Richard is well known in the community for running an MMA gym and working with young people.
Also featuring on the mural is Alex Wiltshire (Boyo) who has been recognised for his work with young people in the borough, developing their art skills, including, filming, music writing and performing.
The community also wanted to give recognition to the Guardian in Abertillery that was commissioned to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1960 mining disaster in Six Bells that claimed the lives of 45 men. The statue also appears on the mural.
Richard, Jack and Alex were all there with the young people from the group for the official unveiling of the project. They were joined by the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Safety Cllr Helen Cunningham, local ward councillor Cllr Keith Chaplin and representatives of Gwent Police.
Cabinet Member, Cllr Helen Cunningham said:
“It’s wonderful to see the mural brightening up the bus shelter in Abertillery and even better that it’s with local faces the young people admire and are inspired by.
“Anti-social behaviour affects people’s quality of life and how safe they feel at home and when out and about in the community. Thank you to all the residents and businesses who have engaged with the Taskforce’s work and for their vigilance and cooperation in reporting anti-social behaviour. We have previously shared our success in getting Civil Injunctions against individuals persisting in anti-social behaviour. Today is about shining a light on the ways young people are looking to their own role models and are actively inspiring others to follow their lead and diminish the appeal of anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhoods.”
Alex Wiltshire said:
“I’m absolutely blown away and honoured to be considered and included as part of this community driven art piece that is dedicated to inspiration and positive futures in our valleys. Amazing to see the results of unity and creativity in our area.”
The youth service delivers a Positive Futures group with young people from local secondary schools two days per week. The project aims to support young people on the cusp of permanent exclusion and who are on the verge of first-time entry into the youth justice system.
A big thank you to Anthony at Consumersmith Fine Art, the artist that has provided the support, skills and confidence to young people to produce the artwork.
The project has been funded by Multiply through Shared Prosperity Funding. The young people have been involved from start to finish with the project, including managing the budget, which has supported the development of their numeracy skills.
This is the Youth Service’s second graffiti art project in Blaenau Gwent, with one in the car park at The Works, Ebbw Vale, celebrating the mining heritage of the area, and we hope to do more soon. Not only do they look great, but they also help to give young people a sense of real pride in their community.
Find out more about the Anti-Social Behaviour Taskforce in Blaenau Gwent here – https://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/en/resident/emergencies-crime-prevention/community-safety/anti-social-behaviour/
