Information on Loughborough

Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood

Posted on 18/07/2008

Graffiti inside a well known building in Loughborough

A SERIES of free graffiti workshops could help creative youngsters avoid a brush with the law.

 

Charnwood Community Safety Partnership, of which Charnwood Borough Council is a partner,  is staging the six-week programme of graffiti workshops in three neighbourhoods to give 11 to 16-year-olds an alternative means of expression rather than daubing slogans and images on buildings throughout the Borough.

 

A community graffiti artist will deliver the three-hour long workshops in the Peel Drive and Ashby Estate areas of Loughborough plus Mountsorrel and get youngsters to work on canvas prints.

 

Its aim is prevent them from getting into trouble while still being creative and their work could end up on public display throughout Charnwood.

 

Mark Burbidge, Charnwood Borough Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Case Officer, said: “Graffiti and vandalism cause serious concern to people living and working in Charnwood.

 

“Their complaints are considered very seriously, with enforcement action being taken where appropriate. It is hoped that this series of workshops will educate young people and encourage them to adopt more acceptable means of expression.”

 

Wendy Brown, Charnwood Borough Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator, added: “Projects of this type are all about ensuring the best possible outcomes for our young people.

 

“If we can prevent them from getting into trouble with the police and keep them out of the criminal justice system, then that has to be a good thing.”

 

Sessions for the Peel Drive area will take place in the Moira Centre, Moira Street, Loughborough on Tuesday, August 12 th, 19 th and 26th between 11am and 2pm.

 

The remaining three events will be on Friday, September 5th and Thursday, September 11th and 18th between 5.30pm and 8.30pm.

 

Workshops on the Ashby Estate will take place at the Hut, in Old Ashby Road, on Friday, July 25th and August 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th between 10am and 1pm.

 

Mountsorrel Methodist Church, in Church Hill Road, will host the other sessions on Tuesday, August 12th, 19th, 26th, September 2nd, 9th and 16th between 6.30pm and 9.30pm.

 

Cllr David Snartt, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Community Safety and chairperson of the Community Safety Partnership, welcomed the initiative as an excellent way to reduce graffiti, especially in some of the priority areas within Charnwood.

 

He said: “These workshops, I believe, will give young people an excellent opportunity to express themselves whilst encouraging them to be creative through the guidance of a community artist, with the added bonus that their work may be displayed around the Charnwood area.

 

“I am hopeful we will then see a reduction in the unacceptable graffiti that is undesirable and offensive to the residents of Charnwood.”

 

Inspector Tim McCabe, from the North Area Community Safety Bureau, said: “We know from experience that bored children are more likely to get into trouble with the police and summer initiatives like this are a fun and constructive way of keeping young people entertained throughout the holidays.

 

“We want young people to enjoy themselves and make sure their behaviour doesn’t have a detrimental impact on anyone else while they are off school.”

 

To find out more about the Graffiti Workshops, call Loughborough (01509) 634 533.