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31 October 2025

Windows to Wellbeing

  • A circular mural with blue background and pastel moon, stars, planets, and rocket, painted onto a plain wall
  • A circular mural in pastel colours of dolphins swimming and jumping with a sun, painted onto a plain wall
  • An arch shaped mural depicting a sunny countryside scene with birds, butterflies, trees, and river with sailboats, painted onto a plain wall
  • An arch shaped mural seascape showing waves in a gradient of blues with orange fish, and an orange sunset sky with birds flying, painted onto a plain wall

For ​‘Windows to Wellbeing’, young changemakers supported by the Isle of Wight Youth Justice Service worked with a professional artist to create murals for the cell at the Isle of Wight Courts in which children and vulnerable adults are held. The murals were created to make the cell a less stark and alienating space, with the young people being involved in every aspect of the planning and design.

You didn’t just come and say ‘this is what we’re going to do’. Everyone got to say what their ideas were and everyone’s ideas were included.

Following an open-call, a selection process was held, and the children got to decide which of four artists they worked with after seeing their pitches, giving them agency and ​‘buy in’ to the success of the project from the very start. 

They selected local artist Laura Hathaway, and they worked with her to develop a series of mural designs representing ​‘Windows to Wellbeing’, designed to take the cell’s occupants ​‘out’ of a stressful and intimidating space. They worked with Laura to understand the impact of colour and theme on mood, choosing their own colour palette to create calm, and promote emotional regulation and wellbeing. They made the decisions about the themes and composition. Finally, they came along to the court cell and co-created the murals.

  • A sun from the final mural being painted as a practice
  • hands using a stencil to paint something onto a piece of paper with trees
  • hands visible collaboratively painting a countryside scene onto a large bit of paper

The project, which was kindly funded by #BeeWell, aimed to improve the mental wellbeing of participants, as well as young people held in the cell. One participant told us: ​“I get really worried about meeting new people, but this has made me much more confident. I’d definitely feel more confident about doing something like this in the future.”

I get really worried about meeting new people, but this has made me much more confident. I’d definitely feel more confident about doing something like this in the future.

Since completion, we have heard that the Youth Justice Board has recognised this project as an example of good practice, recommending it be shared with other local authorities. The project exemplifies how Child First approaches centred on participation, creativity, and personal development, can lead to meaningful change both for individuals and the wider system.

It’s been wonderful to see their ideas evolve and to watch their confidence grow with each session. There’s been a real sense of pride as they realised they were creating something meaningful for others, giving something back to the community in such a thoughtful and creative way.

With thanks to project partners #BeeWell, Isle of Wight Youth Justice Service, & Isle of Wight Law Courts

Young Cultural Changemakers gives young people the opportunity to make a difference in their local communities through creative projects. Read more about our Placemaking work on the Isle of Wight here:

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A pastel orange and yellow fish with blue bubbles painted onto a white painted brick wall

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