Primary school and university students make Whitehaven Waves with their eye-catching art piece.

St Begh’s Primary School and University of Central Lancashire students joined forces to create artwork which celebrates Whitehaven’s rich cultural history.

It shows the town’s connections to countries all around the world, and the people who have visited from different areas over the years.

The project was organised by the Centre for Volunteering and Community Leadership and Connected Communities West Cumbria at UCLan, and gave the project the theme of diversity, encouraging the children to celebrate people’s differing backgrounds, promoting acceptance.

Twenty year three students at St Begh’s had the opportunity to question the UCLan students, based at Westlakes, who had moved from Africa, Asia and America to study medicine in England.

Bob Walley, from UCLan’s Centre for Volunteering and Community Leadership, said: “Whitehaven had a long-running connection with the rest of the world by being an important port, and many people and products have passed through the town.so it was a great opportunity for the two groups to join together and make a piece of art which represented diversity. The energy and enthusiasm from all involved was wonderful”.

Describing the students’ response to the project, he continued, saying, “the UCLan students involved in this project are currently based at our Westlakes Campus but have come from different cultures, so it was a great opportunity for the two groups to join together and make a piece of art which represented diversity. The energy and enthusiasm from all involved was wonderful”.

The event took place at Whitehaven’s Beacon Museum. The artwork will soon be on display in the museum until it is put up for auction to raise money for a local mental health charity.