Broomhouse Health Strategy Group, a community-led local health project had a whirlwind summer of volunteer work, resulting in the fantastic colour transformation of Broomhouse Market in South West Edinburgh where they are based. It’s community empowerment at its best – local volunteers teaming together to change their area for the better!
After being awarded funds and over 250 litres of paint from Dulux through their Let’s Colour community initiative in June, the Broomhouse Health Strategy Group commissioned the artists MSCreative to draw up designs for the large mural wall, 5 shop shutters and 2 other large wall surfaces – over 450m2 of surface area! Over the summer design workshops were held with local residents and youth groups, resulting in some amazing designs.
Here is what it looked like before the makeover….
The practical work took place over three weeks starting at the end of August. Over 60 local and business volunteers contributing over 200 days of hard practical work! Alongside local volunteers of all ages, there were groups of volunteers from The Prince’s Trust, Tesco Bank and ESPC.
It’s an amazing example of community empowerment – the local community came together to make it happen. The result is not just a colourful facelift, but also an increase in social connections within the community, with some very proud active local volunteers and a local community that has had its self- esteem significantly raised.
Some of the local comments show that the initiative is very much appreciated:-
I think it’s a brilliant idea as some places are pretty grim!
Has made such a huge difference to the area, brilliant!
Puts a smile on your face!
The colours hit you as you come round the corner!
I painted the seaweed, it was really relaxing!
Makes you feel happy in the morning.
It’s so much less intimidating
Fantastic – a brilliant achievement with such a small amount of money!
Called out of a passing car “beautiful, it looks beautiful”
It made me feel like part of the community
It feels like Broomhouse has its own identity – feels like home
Makes me feel good and happy – good for Broomhouse!
Cheers me up daily!
I made lovely friends
How happy it makes my daughter to be home!
There isn’t anything I don’t like apart from I wish it had lasted longer!
It’s far better and you should do a lot more of it
An inspiring attempt to encourage people to become more involved in improving their own community.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
This is fantastic and well done to all those who taken part
It looks bright, clean and it makes you smile.
What a difference between before and after! The organisers, sponosrs and especially the local volunteers should be really proud of themselves. Hopefully others will be inspired to develop other projects like this.
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