GRAFFITI IN HEALTH 2024-25
Results from the questionnaires can be found HERE.
WHAT WE DID
Cathays & Central Youth & Community Project (CCYCP)’s ‘Graffiti in Health’ project ran from April 2024 to November 2025. The original plan was for it to be a six month project but unfortunately, we faced some challenges with our partners and so it ended up being spread over a year and a half.
The project was focussed on exploring how the existing peer support system for graffiti writers could be strengthened by partnering with specialist organisations.
MAY-JUNE 2024
We held two sketch sessions to shape the project. These were attended by 12 graffiti writers – a mixture of ages and abilities, mostly from Cardiff, following a post about the project and reaching out to people in our network. The sessions were informal, with vinyl decks and a mic set up for DJs and MCs.
JULY 2024
Our health partner ‘Arts For Health & Wellbeing’ (Cardiff & Vale University Health Board) sadly folded.
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2024
We were happy to secure a new partnership with Adferiad and they came to a sketch session with 5 graffiti writers, to find out more about the project. They also attended a jam in Glebelands Park, Newport where 21 people signed up to paint together.
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JANUARY 2025
7 graffiti writers met with Adferiad to find out how they could support what we are doing. The main outcome was a request for safeguarding and other training. Adferiad were keen to receive help with engaging with young people.
Laurel MacCormac (Sociology, Social Anthropology & Statistics BA Joint Hons) helped design questionnaires to gain a better understanding of the motivations for people to paint graffiti, and the gaps in accessing health and other service providers.
FEBRUARY-JUNE 2025
Questionnaires were asked by Cheryl Medway (Youth & Community Work BA Hons), at four paint jams:
Ein Stryd (partnership with She Paints Our Streets and New Era Talent)
Jungle Jam (partnership with Cardiff Council and New Era Talent)
Bridge Street Jam (organised by Making Places Beautiful)
Sevenoaks Park (organised by an independent graffiti writer)
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Results from the questionnaires can be found HERE.
We supported two graffiti writers into work placements with Cathays Community Centre and New Era Talent.
We began developing a project idea for people affected by poor dental health, which can impact on confidence, particularly relevant for people in recovery from addiction. The ‘Bare Grills’ project would see dental work carried out in exchange for creation of murals.
SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2025
We had no further communication from Adferiad and so we continued with New Era Talent partnering with us to deliver a Safeguarding training session.
CCYCP’s safeguarding lead Russell Munton delivered a session with Gemma Smith (New Era safeguarding lead), which was attended by 5 graffiti writers, four of whom are involved in delivering youth projects. Two New Era youth mentors who were involved in running the Ein Stryd jam also attended. A follow up session was held, to begin working on a street-based safeguarding policy and guidelines. New Era are now supporting Alicia Gil-Cerventes (She Paints Our Streets) to do a Youth Work Level 2 qualification.
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