Meet the group helping to keep their town in ship-shape condition

The ship-shaper group were set up as 'a group to help tidy up the town' and quickly got started by organising litter picking, fence painting, weed picking and recently the mural painting.

Lara Schwab who owns Little Whims orchestrated the mission and worked with the Harbour Youth Project on the actual paintings. Morrisons funded the flowers and the Harbour Commissioners funded the paint. The ship-shapers cleared the area to make way for the murals.

The work they have done means they have brought the demolished sea front buildings back to life and is a massive transformation to an otherwise unused piece of land.

The site of the mural before it was transformed (Image: Newsquest)

Lara Schwab said:

“We have done this project over a few Sundays and we are really happy to get it finished and very pleased with the end result.”

“It means we have improved that area and made it looked loved. It is a part of history the building that used to be there.”

Morrisons donated the flowers, and the Harbour Commissioners donated the paint (Image: Newsquest)

Nick Smith, from the Harbour Youth Project said:

“We at WHYP are all really proud of all the young people and volunteers that have helped make this project a reality. Speaking to the young people, they were delighted with how it turned out and also how amazing it was seeing the bare wall transformed into the final mural."

"It was wonderful working alongside Lara from the Ship Shapers group, being a great example to young people of a dedicated role model, who gives their time up for a worthwhile project."

"Hopefully, this will be the start of many joined-up volunteering projects the young people can join in with.”

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