Alex’s story:

 

In September 2011 an art competition for primary children within the county of Ceredigion was launched by Laing O’Rourke, the contractors working on the new build for Bronglais Hospital Aberystwyth and Hywel Dda Health Board. The theme was ‘What you love about Ceredigion’ and children were invited to send in original artworks on A4 size paper. While all the entries were to be displayed in Bronglais Hospital, the overall prizewinner would win 2 tickets to Oakwood Theme Park.

 

Over a hundred entries were received and Haul-arts in health were involved in the selection process and also organised the display of all the entries in the Dining Room at Bronglais Hospital. Laing O’Rourke provided the paint and the artist, Pod Clare, was commissioned to organise a community arts project to combine elements of all the childrens’ entries in a colourful mural on some of the hoardings protecting the site of new building near the Accident and Emergency (A & E) entrance.

 

Once the design had been drawn on the panels, community groups were invited to help ’colour in’ the outlined drawing. The participants included clients from Mind Aberystwyth, hospital staff, local residents, families waiting for relatives to be treated in A & E and volunteers from Rhoserchan residential centre for alcohol and drug rehabilitation. One resident from Rhoserchan, Alex, found that he had a talent for painting carefully and precisely. When Pod asked if he had an art background, he said ‘no’ and explained that he had a long history of getting into trouble and had left school at 12 years old and had hung around with a lot of older people.

 

“ I have spent the last 11 years in and out of prison spending more time in than out; I have never had a job and have got a long history of drug misuse. I got released from prison on 2nd of August 2011 and went into a rehab in Aberystwyth to sort out my drug abuse. While I was there I was offered a chance to do some voluntary work and that’s where I met Pod. This was the first time I had done any type of work and I really enjoyed it.”

 

Alex came back and volunteered for 4 days and on the last day, was offered a job as a painter and decorator with the contractors, Laing O’Rourke. Alex has now been working full time with them for over a year, has his own flat and has been reunited with his family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although the hoardings have now been dismantled, sections have been given to schools and community groups within Ceredigion to be enjoyed for many years to come.