Paint The Future

On the 15th August 2026, Andrew Watson worked with local artist Kezia Hoffman in The Lights, Andover where they explored street art and supported a project to design and create a large scale mural that will enhance the local area.

The street art workshop gave young people an opportunity to develop new creative skills while working towards the production of a large-scale mural in Andover town centre alongside other youth groups.

During the session, participants learned the techniques, planning processes and practical skills needed to create artwork on a large wall.

Feedback was extremely positive. The young people proudly shared their work with family members and explained that, after a long and isolating summer, the workshop had meant a great deal to them.

They are now looking forward to applying their new skills and helping to create the final mural later in September.

More Than an Event: A Moment That Mattered

During Unlock: a free summer programme for young people in Andover, we met a group of young people who were planning to go to the lake after the event. When speaking with them, we became concerned for their safety as they told us they were unable to swim.

Fortunately, the nurses had water-safety resources with them and were able to use this opportunity to provide the boys with practical, potentially life-saving advice. They talked to them about the dangers of open water, how to stay safe, and what to do if they found themselves in difficulty. The nurses also demonstrated how to float, giving the boys the opportunity to practise the technique safely on the field.

Before heading home, the boys were given a QR code with further water-safety information that they could share with their grown-ups.

What started as a brief conversation had a lasting impact. By giving these young people the knowledge and practical skills to recognise the risks and respond safely around water, the nurses may have helped prevent a future tragedy.

In just a few minutes, the team were able to provide information that could potentially save a life.