Girlguiding Tamworth jumps on board bus shelter project

A century of Girlguiding in Tamworth is being celebrated with the transformation of a bus shelter which will be given a colourful new makeover thanks to youngsters from across the town.

Members of all 30 Girlguiding units in the Tamworth Division were able to take part in the project and get creative by coming up with drawings of their favourite characters and activities for the bus shelter’s new look.

A selection of the designs have now been transferred onto vinyl to adorn the walls of a bus shelter on the B5000 in Glascote, where it will hopefully raise awareness of Girlguiding and help to attract new volunteers to the ever-growing organisation.

The latest transformation adds to Tamworth Borough Council’s ‘Catch Art’ project which saw seven bus shelters across the town being brightened up by local children, schools and organisations, with the help of Vic Brown of Art Recruitment Tamworth.

Catch Art was funded by Arts Council England, as part of Tamworth Borough Council’s wider Arts in Unusual Spaces initiative, which aims to bring art out into the community and encourage people to get creative.

Although funding for Catch Art has come to an end, Tamworth Borough Council’s Arts & Events team has been working to continue the legacy by encouraging other community groups and organisations to seek their own funding for bus shelter makeovers.

Girlguiding Tamworth successfully applied for £500 from Tamworth Borough Council’s Arts Grants scheme and a further £500 from the Small Grants scheme and was able to work with Art Recruitment Tamworth to bring another bland bus stop to life.

Jill Longhurst, of Girlguiding Tamworth, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the Catch Art project as we celebrate 100 years of Girlguiding in Tamworth.

“Members of our Rainbow, Brownie, Guide and Ranger sections brought their ideas to our World Thinking Day event during which more than 300 girls participated in artwork relating to the project. Many took their inspiration from activities planned for our division Kingswood Adventure Weekend.

“We very much appreciate the support from the council and Vic the artist, as this has enabled us to bring the project to life. It’s been an exciting opportunity and we are all very much looking forward to seeing the end result.

“We are always ready to welcome new members, including adult volunteers, so if anyone would like to join us on our journey, please register your interest at www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved

Cllr John Chesworth, Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Culture and Operational Services, said: “Thanks to funding from Arts Council England, our Arts & Events team have been able to devise and deliver some great projects that have brought art out into the community, encouraged people to get creative and brightened up different spaces across the town.

“It’s very rewarding to see these projects come to fruition, but the real success of such initiatives is when they start something bigger and inspire others to get involved under their own steam. This is a good example of funding being used to kick-start what will hopefully become a lasting legacy of art and creativity in Tamworth.

“I’ve enjoyed spotting and admiring the various decorated bus shelters around the town and I’m looking forward to seeing this latest addition. Girlguiding is an important part of Tamworth life and it’s wonderful that their 100-year anniversary can be celebrated in such a prominent and eye-catching way.”

The B5000 Girlguiding bus shelter is set to be transformed on Sunday, June 24.
More information about community grants available from Tamworth Borough Council is available at www.tamworth.gov.uk/grants