Local foodbank and café gets free mural makeover

Reprezent wanted to use volunteer asylum seekers to help with its plan for a vibrant new mural for the resource centre and approached Great Yarmouth Borough Council's Communities Team which made the necessary introductions.

As a result, seven asylum seekers joined Reprezent to help with the mural and other painting. Work was finished this week and management of the Pathway centre were delighted with the results.

A Pathway spokesperson said: ''The mural and painting of other walls has made a massive difference. We offer a warm, welcoming space to people in our local community yet it felt a bit dull and bland. This wonderful mural has brightened up the room and provided a local talking space.

''I'm sure the mural will become a talking point for guests and visitors.''

The artwork was created entirely free of charge with Reprezent using materials left over from previous projects and the artists donating their time.

Reprezent's Ruben Cruz said: "We wanted to work with some of the asylum seekers currently living in Great Yarmouth as a way of helping them expand their connections and knowledge of the town.

"Now they have some experience volunteering, we hope other organisations also offer them opportunities to get involved with local events and projects."

Paula Boyce, strategic director at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: ''I'd like to thank Reprezent for its kind offer to provide asylum seekers currently living in the borough with a worthwhile project which also benefits the Pathways food hub.  

Davide Almeida, Reprezent Project Director, said: "It's always rewarding to start new projects, and this is the first time we have worked with asylum seekers. We focus on driving inclusion through our art projects and this is another example of that work. We are pleased Reprezent Project has been able to reach out to and create a positive impact.

"It was also very rewarding to see how engaged, talented and organised the asylum seekers were. We hope we can be involved in more projects like this in the future."

Pathway is an independent charity operating out of The Minster Mission in Admiralty Road. It provides lunches, practical help and advice in a warm, friendly environment. This year it launched the Yarmouth & Magdalen Food Bank in partnership with the Trussell Trust, which on referral from professional agencies, helps people with emergency food parcels to feed them as well as assisting with advice.