The "unattractive" underpass leading to Ely Leisure Village is now full of colour thanks to a large mural created by Ely Community College students.

The collaborative 'gateway' project - which aimed to create a positive image of young people and develop their skills in street art - involved City of Ely Council, Ely Community College, East Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council.

Kilo, lead artist at Splash & Dash Creations Ltd, facilitated a series of after-school workshops with the students.

These taught them the skills required to be able to paint a group mural, and work on basic spray paint techniques including filling in, fading colours together, working with complex shapes and outlining. 

(Image: ECDC) Students from Year 8 to Year 10 were tasked with developing their own original ideas, combining the best elements into a finished design and completing the collaborative painting.

One student commented that they "first started Graffiti club because I had just been to Birmingham where there were loads of cool graffiti murals and I thought it would be really cool to help make something like that in Ely.” 

Youth councillor at City of Ely Council, Will Novick, added: "It's wonderful to see the college and local councils working together to create opportunities for young people to influence the city we live, work, and study in.

"This project has turned an unattractive underpass into a community project which will show the best of Ely."

(Image: ECDC) Lis Every, chair of the community safety partnership, added: “This excellent project was initiated by our local young people who wanted to ensure the underpass was a pleasant environment for the community using it.

“The students from Ely College, with local partners and professional street artists have really transformed this area.   

“The CSP were really pleased to support this which is funded by the City of Ely Council and community infrastructure levy committee as sub-group of City of Ely Council.

“We are grateful to all those involved – it was a real partnership approach. 

“We would like to hear of more ideas from young people and where possible work together to make them happen.”

(Image: ECDC)

(Image: ECDC) (Image: ECDC)