Carmarthen Youth Group, Dr Mz have marked their return to face-to-face sessions by launching their new project to highlight the issue of climate change. Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Climate Action Boost Funding and support from Renew Wales, the exciting new project led by Gayle Harris and her team, is supporting young people and helping to improve the community.
In a recent press release Gayle Harris said
“We have received £14,795 from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Boost scheme, to develop some cool projects at Dr Mz to raise awareness amongst the young people of Carmarthen and the Community about Climate Change and what we can do to make a difference, however small.
The Project has kicked off in style with the young people designing and painting a mural on the wall of the Youth Centre in Friars Park. The young people spent a day with community artist, Heidi Plant from Odd Family Studio, to come up with some great ideas. It involves bicycles, wind turbines, solar power and is super bright and colourful to brighten up the walk from town to the two local supermarkets.
During half term week, we started painting the wall and we had a lot of interest from passers-by, which was a real boost for the young people’s confidence after such a difficult time through lockdown.”
Heidi, the artist who worked with the children, describes herself as a creative mother of 3 with a love of bold colours and innovative techniques and using different mediums such as print, drawing, painting, sculpture and collage. Her work has featured on the BBC, Channel 4 and in The Guardian. She now lives in Pembrokeshire with her family.
She said of the project:
“We’ve had a lot of fun seeing the mural take shape. The young people have worked really hard and it’s been an incredible experience to watch the artwork come to life and put a smile on people’s faces.”
One of the young people, Heidi aged 13, said
“That’s all I want to do is paint! I love it! I love being able to get involved in this project at Dr Mz.”
Becca Rothera, Transform It Lead Worker at Carmarthen Youth Project, said:
“This grant is allowing us to develop some really exciting Climate Awareness projects with the young people at Dr Mz. It will start with the Mural to get us all thinking about what we can do to protect our planet…watch this space for the other ideas we have.”
The project is set to continue with many other elements, including a cycling proficiency project to encourage young people to cycle safely, a SUD (Sustainable Drainage System) planter to help with flooding in the car park, and a cob pizza oven made sustainably by young people.
