A feel-good project has seen local schoolchildren help to give a splash of colour in some of North Tyneside Council’s independent living schemes.
Organised by North Tyneside Council’s housing service alongside North Tyneside Learning Trust, the project has seen generations come together and produce artwork based on North Tyneside’s history.
Students from Percy Main Primary School and Burnside College were invited to North Tyneside Living schemes to meet some of the tenants, talk about their life and the history of North Tyneside, specifically around their local area and where they go to school.
And using these stories as inspiration, the tenants and students worked together to create bespoke artwork to be displayed in their schools, as well as in communal areas of independent living schemes in Percy Lodge and Rosebank Hall.
The artwork was unveiled in special events at the North Tyneside Living schemes, where Council officers joined tenants, students and North Tyneside Learning Trust to celebrate.
Cllr John Harrison, Cabinet Member for Housing, attended the art unveiling at Rosebank Hall. Speaking on the project, he said: “This is such a fantastic piece of work. To see students so young taking such a strong interest in the history of our borough is immensely heartwarming.
“Everyone has done such an incredible job and I was delighted to be able to attend the unveiling. The artwork looks great and they’ve captured the history of our Borough so well. They should all be very proud of the work they’ve done.”
Katrina Moffat, Project Manager for North Tyneside Learning Trust said: “Collaborative work is at the heart of what we do at NTLT and these collaborations are wonderful.
“It’s been such a lovely experience listening to the children and tenants chatting and then creating beautiful artwork together.
“There are so many benefits to this kind of project including boosting well-being and building age-friendly communities.”
The artwork has been so well received by tenants and guests that plans are already being worked on to expand the project to all 25 of the Council’s North Tyneside Living schemes.
ENDS