Hill Partnerships

Budding young artists in Vange have unveiled a 200ft x 8ft mural of street art, to celebrate living in their Essex community.  The street art is an interpretation of life in Vange – past, present and future, and features the names and self-portraits of the young people who have taken part, images representing the history of the estate and a ‘Kings of Vange’ logo, to demonstrate the youngster’s pride in their community.

Before they started painting, the young people were given three days of tuition by artists from Brave Arts at Bardfield Arts Centre.   The sessions aimed to build social skills, team working, confidence and self esteem.   Youngsters came up with ideas for the mural and planned the design.

In March, Hill Partnerships started a £14.5 million regeneration programme to build 120 new affordable homes over three years for South Anglia Homes.  Of the 120 new homes, 90 will be for NewBuild HomeBuy and 30 for affordable rent, allocated via the council housing list.

By sponsoring the project, South Anglia Housing and the builders hope they will be discouraged from committing graffiti offences around the estate. Hill Partnerships also provided high visibility jackets and masks to ensure the artists were safe.

Andy Hill, Managing Director, of Hill Partnerships, said: “Working in partnership with our housing association customers and the communities they work with is very important to us.  South Anglia Housing are making great changes and providing new homes but regeneration is more than that.  This street art project involves young people, while adds new vibrancy and real excitement to the area.”

“Our company already supports young people with training places in the industry and we hope we might get some more interest and encourage others.”

The street art will be on public display until July 2009.