The Hive Guys Youth Project, funded by the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Youth Service, recently collaborated with local artists, Hurts So Good, to create a mural at the community centre.

The youth group host weekly meetings for young people in the Vale at Buttrills Community Centre in Barry, which had previously been defaced by a graffiti tag.

Young people involved with the Hive Guys Youth Project collaborated with Hurts So Good and community centre users to create a mural design that would replace the graffiti and better represent the local community.

Once the design was ready, the Hive Guys Youth Project presented the mural idea to the centre’s committee for approval.

On March 10, the Vale Youth Service, Hive Guys and Hurts So Good held an event where members of the public could come along and see the mural painting in progress.

The event was well attended by members of the community, including Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan, Julie Aviet, and Vale of Glamorgan Council Youth Champion, Cllr Ewan Goodjohn.

As well as the mural painting, young people in attendance planted sunflowers around the centre for Mother’s Day and participated in games and arts and crafts. There were also a number of discussions about how the youth group and local community can continue to work together in the future.

Cllr Mark Wilson, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood and Building Services, said: “The new mural at Buttrills Community Centre is a fantastic example of community collaboration to help transform public spaces in the Vale.

“The project encapsulates the passion and dedication young people involved with the Hive Guys Youth Project have for their community and the important role our Youth Service plays in helping their ideas become reality.”

Cllr Gwyn John, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Wellbeing, said: “Our community centres play such a vital role in providing a safe and welcoming space for residents of all ages, and the new mural at Buttrills Community Centre sums up perfectly what the centre represents.

“I hope the mural brings community centre users a sense of pride for their community and look forward to seeing more of the great work that Hive Guys, Buttrills Community Centre, and the Youth Service carry out.”

The new mural is located on the side of the building that overlooks Buttrills field, so walkers, runners, and sports teams will be able to see the mural when using the field adjacent to the Community Centre.

This is the second phase of a project that the Vale Youth Service and Hurts So Good have collaborated on, following the recent unveiling of a mural at Barry Rugby Club. Funding for the project was provided by the Vale Youth Service.

The Hive Guys Youth Club is open to all 11 to 17-year-olds in the Vale and meet every Thursday from 7 till 8pm at Buttrills Community Centre.