During March this year, Paint the Change collaborated with Education Links, a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) in Newham, London, to produce a mural through co-creation workshops with Education Links  students. Education Links supports young people aged 11-16 who are outside of the mainstream academic system, helping them reintegrate back into education.

The mural was developed during a three-day workshop centered on themes of identity and transformation. Led by Mr Gee, a distinguished poet and broadcaster, and ATMA, an international street artist and artistic director at Paint the Change, the workshops engaged students in creative discourse, using the symbolism of a seed's growth as a metaphor for personal development.

This approach was designed to incorporate students' perspectives on identity and transformation into the mural design, giving them ownership over their school space. ATMA noted that "Transformation" was particularly relevant, as these students are navigating transitional phases in their lives, and finding positive outlets for expression can make this process more constructive for the participants.

Mr Gee highlighted how the workshops explored students' relationships with both positive and negative influences. Through poetry and artistic dialogue, participants developed an understanding that even negative experiences contribute to growth and personal transformation.

Students actively contributed ideas throughout the process, which ATMA synthesized into the final design. The students then helped paint the mural over the course of a week, experiencing a sense of accomplishment at seeing their concepts visually realized.

Head teacher Errol Comrie expressed satisfaction with the completed mural, noting its positive impact on both the student body and wider community. The school selected for this project students who struggled with the national curriculum and was pleased with their level of engagement. Staff observed that participants found the experience therapeutic, reinforcing the value of artistic interventions for diverse learning needs.