Local schools and groups around Leigh-on-sea inspired for art trail

March 9, 2023

Local hospice charity, Havens Hospices, held an inspiring event for the Learning Programme schools and groups taking part in the upcoming Herd In The City art trail.

The Learning Programme’s baby elephants are an important part of the art trail coming to Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea and Shoeburyness this summer. Sponsored by Rickard Luckin, each one will be designed by a local school, youth group or community project, making them completely unique with their own personalities and names.

The 71 baby elephants will be displayed together in ‘mini herds’ across the city, alongside 46 large elephants for eight weeks between July and September 2023 before they stomp back to their forever home with their creators.

The event gave the 61 local schools and groups who attended the opportunity to hear first-hand from a number of presenters and talk to each other about their ideas for their sculptures and fundraising activities.

Hayley Cleveland, Audit & Accounts Manager from Learning Programme Partner Rickard Luckin, spoke about the importance of the programme. Annie Laughrin, Art & Education Manager for Wild in Art and co-creators of Herd In The City, gave advice and tips on the art materials to use when decorating the babies.

Michelle Arnold, Head of Art for The Eastwood Academy, whose school had recently completed their baby elephant ‘Ellie’ spoke about the process. Lauren Eagle-Allen from Havens Hospices shared key information and the reason for the charity’s art trail, sharing a video of one of the children the hospice cares for.

Kate Bell, Director and Head of Education Team at Rickard Luckin, says, “We are proud and excited to be involved in an initiative that complements our ethos and values at Rickard Luckin. There is no doubt that the project will have a very positive impact on inspiring and motivating our young people, all while supporting the vital work of local charity Havens Hospices.”

As well as providing children and young people an opportunity to experiment with different art forms, the programme also empowers them to take ownership and showcase their artwork to thousands of people, making it accessible to all.

Annie Laughrin, Art & Education Manager for Wild in Art, says, “Children and young people are at the heart of our communities, so it’s really important that we give them the opportunity to be embedded in the heart of projects like the Herd In The City.

“Every one of them has the ability to be innately creative, and the Learning Programme gives them the flexibility to develop new creative skills and explore new ways of learning and seeing the world.”

At the end of the session, the groups could collect their blank baby elephants and take them back to begin their decoration before returning them for the trail.

Lauren Eagle-Allen, Learning Programme Lead at Havens Hospices, says, “It was great to see all the local schools and community coming together for the Inspiration Event. Everyone was so excited to collect their baby elephants and to get started on their decoration.

“As well as being an unforgettable event for all involved, the art trail will raise thousands of pounds for Havens Hospices, allowing us to provide free, specialist hospice care for local adults, children, and families who need us.”

Havens Hospices includes Fair Havens in Southend, and Little Havens, the children’s hospice for Essex based in Benfleet. The care provided by the charity is completely free of charge, thanks to the generosity of individuals and groups, raising money and making donations.

Herd In The City is made possible thanks to Presenting Partner Southend-on-Sea City Council, Official Event Partners, BTMK Solicitors, Method IT, Ayers & Cruiks and c2c, plus Rickard Luckin as the Learning Programme Partner, Atlantic Pacific as the Logistics Partner, Echo Newspaper as the Media Partner, Main Media as the Photography and Videography Partner, and 6rs as the Creative Partner, which has produced the brand for the project.

For further information about the trail, visit www.herdinthe.city or follow the herd at herdinthe.city on Instagram and @herdinthecity on Twitter and Facebook.