At Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, young people have helped turn a plain outdoor wall into something much more meaningful: a colourful mural that reflects their creativity, identity and sense of belonging.

Nominated by the young people at Half Moon, Rachael won a 2024 Leader Award for her exceptional commitment to Youth Theatres and Creative Learning programme. Known as a brilliantly creative, empathetic and resourceful leader, she excels at tailoring her approach to meet unique needs and building meaningful connections with young people.

After receiving a Leader Award, Rachael chose to use the accompanying Leader Award Grant to support an idea suggested through the Youth Theatre Forum at Half Moon. During one of the forums, they expressed that the garden needed more colour and that they wanted it to become a brighter, more welcoming place for everyone. The funding enabled the organisation to commission a professional artist to help bring their ideas to life.

To make sure as many young people as possible could contribute, they were invited to draw initial ideas during a forum session, use design templates at home, and share artwork during break times. They were asked one simple but powerful question: “What does Half Moon mean to you?”

As the young people’s ideas came together, the team were amazed that hearts, rainbows, flowers, plants, bright colours and symbols of growth appeared again and again across the different artwork. These shared themes formed the foundation of the final mural design. Working closely with artists Sunny Moon-Little and Imelda McGrath, the young people’s ideas were developed into a vibrant mural, with care taken to ensure their original designs were reflected as fully as possible. The result is a piece that feels genuinely rooted in the voices and imagination of the young people who use the space.

The creative process also helped young people build confidence, pride and a stronger sense of ownership over a space they regularly use. By working with artists to turn their drawings and ideas into a lasting mural, the young people were able to see a direct link between speaking up in the forum and seeing real change happen. The finished mural will continue to brighten the garden and benefit all young people attending programmes at Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, including Solar, their specialist group for teenagers and young adults with physical, sensory and/or cognitive disabilities.

What was once a blank wall has become a colourful and welcoming feature of the garden, where young people can see their own creativity reflected in the space around them. More than decoration, the mural is a lasting reminder that their voices matter. By turning ideas shared through the Youth Theatre Forum into a vibrant piece of artwork, the project shows how Jack Petchey funding can help young people shape their environment and create positive change for their community.

The finished mural

Find out more about the Jack Petchey Foundation’s Leader Award Programme and how it helps recognise outstanding adults while creating new opportunities for young people here.

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