Airplay case study: graffiti art transforms youth club

Airplay case study – graffiti project

RAF Wyton & Brampton
September 2013

Starting point and evidence of need

The RAF Wyton & Brampton Airplay youth club was fortunate in receiving funding from the Parish Council to assist with decorating the building ready for its opening in 2012 and to fund a sessional youth worker. Since the young people have been using the services regularly they have put forward their ideas on how to make the building feel like their own space and become more welcoming. A touch of interior decorating is what is required. After discussions about this, they have decided that a graffiti wall would be the perfect addition.

Work undertaken

The young people wanted to design their own piece of work as part of a competition that could be displayed on the wall at youth club. We ended up with a great selection of designs and asked the RAF to help us decide the final design. Funding was sourced from the RAF and 4Children to support the costs of this project. The young people held a cake stall and a raffle to raise the remaining funds required. 

The winning design was sent to a graffiti company who adapted the design and arranged to come and spray the design onto the wall with the young people taking part.

Outcomes

The design was successfully sprayed onto the wall with the young people. Since the opening of the youth club in September 2012, the numbers have risen due to the word spreading about this graffiti project. When you walk into the youth club you are met with a welcoming and purposeful feeling created by the art on the wall. A vast improvement from the sterile magnolia walls.

Parents have given positive feedback to staff in regards to this project and the overall ‘feel’ of the youth club.

The station is really pleased with the result and would like another project like this done again.

Why was it successful?

It was successful because the young people have been involved from the beginning of the project and have seen how it has progressed. They have also been involved with the funding and securing enough money. The young people are also aware of the positive feedback created by this project. The Airplay youth team have been working alongside the young people throughout the project.