Nottingham station hopes to spread a welcoming message to young people through a mural on a wall near the station's taxi rank to be unveiled this Friday (17 November).
The mural was designed by the team at Imageskool, a creative studio based in nearby Newark which specialises in graffiti art. It depicts famous Nottingham landmarks and aspects of Nottingham's culture, including archery and the city's lion statues. It will promote a message that rail is a safe place for young people to use.
The mural project has involved several Nottingham-based community groups and organisations. Youth group Base 51 has played a central role, working with the Railway Children charity, the Poacher Line Community Rail Partnership (CRP) and Robin Hood Line CRP.
East Midlands Railway, CrossCountry Trains and Community Rail Network are funding the project.
The mural will be unveiled at 1pm on Friday, with the public invited to join the event.
Kaye Robinson, Community Engagement Manager at East Midlands Railway, said: “We were delighted to be able to support this project and help send the powerful message that our rail network should be safe for all.
“It's a great piece of artwork that will brighten up the area, and we are encouraging members of the public to pop down and see it for themselves.”
James Mayle, Artist/Designer from Imageskool, said: “We were excited to once again collaborate with EMR on another amazing mural project, especially being able to work alongside Railway Children and the young people and staff from Base51.
“We have created a lasting piece of artwork inspired by our rail network being a safe and accessible way for young people to experience and explore areas outside of Nottingham.”
David Bentley, Learning, Development, and Participation Manager at Railway Children, said: “We are excited to have been involved in supporting EMR in creating this fantastic mural that depicts the influence of rail in a young person's life and journey.
“We have been working closely with EMR and the rail industry to further promote the safety and well-being of young people on the rail network, and we continue to support them with their Safeguarding on Rail Scheme accreditation. We look forward to some new and exciting developments with them in the coming months.”
