20 young people were involved in a smugglers themed mosaic over a period of a full week which will be located within the foreshore area of saltburn.
These are their comments.

The mosaic project what we did was a great opportunity
because when we walk past in the future. we know that thats what we did and its something to be proud of.

it was once in a life time opportunity to be involved in a mosaic project and i would be proud to walk by it especally if my family was with me.

What we have done so far is build the picture together so you can get a better image of what it is and what it looks like, it's going well and i would just like to say thankyou too mike dent, derek and helen for getting us too be apart of what we have done.

staff member comment:- this project has been a fantastic opportunity for the students and myself to put our collective energies into creating a piece of artwork that can be enjoyed by the community it serves. I am grateful to Helen, Derek and Mike for allowing us to participate in this project. It has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience for all. We have all learned new skills and have tapped into our own personal creative potential - in many cases that was a potential that we never new we had. Once again a big thank you to Helen, Derek and Mike.

Artist Helen says: What a fantastic group of young people! We worked with the Primary Pupils and Secondary Students from the design stage, through to mosaicing the 12 foot long panel. Everyone has been very enthusiastic and worked incredibly hard to a very high standard. We're all looking forward to seeing the mosaic on the beach huts. Well Done Everyone!

Young people from Guisborough have teamed up with the police and a range of organisations to transform an area of the local community and to help discourage anti-social behaviour.
20 young people aged 10 to 20 have been involved with the project to enhance an area outside of Howlbeck Road shops. The area now boasts a number of plant boxes adorned with spring blooms and displaying eye-catching mosaics, featuring images of the local area, following a series of workshop sessions where the young people worked alongside representatives from a number of local organisations.
The young people and individuals from Turning the Corner (TTC), the police and Coast & Country Housing – who jointly funded and managed the scheme – came together during the Easter holidays to build the planters, plant the flowers and shrubs, display the mosaics and to tidy up the area. The scheme also benefitted from funding from Redcar & Cleveland Council’s local area committee fund and the Mayor of Guisborough, Councillor Mike Kilby, was also in attendance to show his support.
The project came about as a result of a collaboration between the Big Lottery funded TTC scheme, Cleveland Police and social housing provider Coast & Country, in a bid to make the area more appealing and to provide a deterrent to anti-social behaviour brought about by young people congregating outside of the shops and playing football.
Cleveland Police were keen to join forces with TTC to bring about the improvements to the area. The project, which is delivered by Groundwork North East, aims to engage young people in environmental improvement projects alongside local businesses and organisations to build positive relationships and break down barriers, helping to alleviate negative attitudes towards younger members of the community seen to be ‘hanging around’ street corners. .

PCSO Lorraine Hudson from the Guisborough Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “We were keen to find a solution, not only to the issue of young people congregating around the shops and the impact on neighbouring residents and shop owners, but to help enhance a tired looking part of the local community.
“Through a partnership approach, we’ve been able to engage young people in positive activities that have brought about improvements to the area, helping to instil a sense of pride and ownership that we hope will discourage people from hanging around the shops. Building relationships between young people, the police and the wider community is paramount to discouraging anti-social behaviour and this project has been excellent platform for doing just that.”
Mike Dent, youth worker for Groundwork North East who leads on TTC project in Redcar & Cleveland, said: “This project has provided a great opportunity for young people to work alongside a wide range of local organisations to make positive improvements that will benefit the whole community, gaining new skills and confidence in the process.
“We hope that the partnership between TTC, Cleveland Police, Coast & Country and the local council will continue to have a positive impact on the area.”
Coast & Country Housing owns the land where the regeneration project took place. Kelly Westwick, area officer for Guisborough, said: “By lending a hand at the workshop sessions, we’ve been able to build relationships with some of the young people who make use of our facilities in the area. As the shops are located opposite the homes of elderly residents, it has also been a good opportunity for them to showcase their hard work, enhancing the area and helping to bridge the generation gap in the process.”
Jonathan aged 17 who was involved in the scheme, said: it was a brilliant work experience we were Creating a sense of pride/ownership in the local area.”

Images that were created to go on planters that are now basd within howlbeck shops
all undertaken by guisborough youth centre
(workshop images to follow)

Tom Blenkinsop, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, showed his support for the Turning the Corner (TTC) project today when he attended the opening of a new school gardening site and got to see the results of a green woodworking course.

The visit to Huntcliff School in Saltburn marked the culmination of a TTC led green woodworking project, where six young people have been busy creating products including spatulas, whistles and spoons. It also marked the opening of the new garden, which showcases the work carried out by around 25 pupils, through TTC, in block paving, decking and horticulture. The garden site will be enjoyed by both primary and secondary school pupils as well as after school clubs.

The TTC projects have resulted in 20 qualifications being awarded to pupils from the National Open College Network (NOCN) and Youth Achievement Awards (YAA).

Since it launched two years ago, the Big Lottery funded TTC scheme has been responsible for a number of young people projects within Redcar & Cleveland, several of which have been managed in conjunction with Huntcliff School. The partnership has provided pupils with the chance to gain practical skills in subjects that fall outside of the national curriculum. The funding for the green woodworking scheme was provided through LEADER, a small scale enhancements programme which is being made available through the Rural Development Programme for England (jointly funded by Defra and the European Union).

During the visit Mr Blenkinsop met with representatives from TTC, which has engaged with 161 young people from Redcar & Cleveland in a variety of projects since early 2010. He then took a tour of the garden and marked its official opening by helping to plant an apple tree.

Mr Blenkinsop commented: "As someone who is both the local MP and a Saltburn resident, I was really pleased to be part of the tree planting at Huntcliff School. The Turning the Corner Scheme is an ideal opportunity to teach youngsters both about our natural environment and the way we can engineer that natural environment to create the skills needed to make a better life - in this case through woodworking. Such schemes build a well rounded view of our world and how we can live in that world.

“I want to congratulate everyone at the school who has been involved in developing and delivering this project."

One of 15 national young people projects, TTC operates across the North East and Yorkshire. As well as helping young people to learn new skills and attain qualifications, it is also designed to give them the opportunity to work together with businesses, building positive relationships and challenging any negative perceptions in the process.

Some of the young people involved with this Huntcliff School scheme were involved in building plant boxes which are now displayed outside of a number of local businesses including Keith’s Sports, Chris Wynn’s Barbers, the Redcar & Cleveland Mind Centre and Saltburn Arts Studios.

Mike Dent, youth worker for Groundwork North East who leads on TTC project in Redcar & Cleveland, said: “It’s fantastic to see the results of these two projects after months of hard work by this group of talented young people. To have Mr Blenkinsop attend this showcase of TTC’s work has given the young people an added and well deserved sense of achievement.”

Thirteen year old Kieran Morgan is one of the young people involved in the scheme. He said: “I have really enjoyed taking part in the block paving and green woodworking courses and having the chance to learn something new. It’s nice to see our work on display and it was good to show it off to the local MP when he visited the school.”

Mrs Ruth Mayes, head teacher at Huntcliff School, said: “We have been delighted to see some of our students involved in this project. Turning The Corner has really provided an opportunity for them to let their talents shine and make a valuable contribution to our school environment.”

I contacted Chris Wynn (Barber) concerning planters that he could have established outside is shop and he was a little reluctant at the beginning because he was concerned about anti social behaviour when the shop was closed. The result being that we placed them there on a trial basis. However because of the brillant comments from his customers he as decided he wants to keep them and he has asked if we could build him a extra seat as well. Furthermore when were constructing them on site he commented on how professional the young people were who were involved in the construction.

Turning the Corner Young people have created bowling club planters and seating as part of their construction training

Turning the Corner the four way approach

Turning the Corner, East Coast Training, the Princes Trust and UK Steel Enterprise worked in partnership to create a Polytunnel that will be used for horticultural training.
Youth worker Mike Dent from Turning the Corner said: “We are delighted with the Polytunnel It will expand the centers growing year and we can use it in all weathers not only for growing but also for training and preparation work. This is hands-on practical work and horticulture is an expanding industry so there are jobs available. The fruit and vegetables that the young people produce will go to the homeless, people living in supported housing and others in need.
Simon Hamilton, UK Steel Enterprise’s regional manager, said: “Our Community Support Fund is all about improving life for people living in steel areas and this project fits in brilliantly.

While in Huntcliff School visiting a group of young people I had worked with in the past I was approached by a group of young men who were interested in some form of green practical work that they could use to enhance their career development.

The outcome being was that with support of the school, we applied to the Leader Fund and were successful in gaining £5000 towards setting up a Green Woodwork/Woodland Management course covering 20 weeks.
We then approached the 6 young people and negotiated with the school that the sessions would be a alternative to part of there normal curriculum. The result being that the course has been established within the school.

What areas the green woodworking will cover.

Introduction to the concept of green woodcraft and the safe use of associated tools and devices
Creation of kitchen items using the shave horse and draw knife
Woodland management and awareness of habitat
Creation of living willow tunnel for sun protection
Safe use of Cross cutting and logging using a saw horse
Introduction to charcoal kiln and charcoal burning

Furthermore we have organised a opening and demonstration day on the 24th of Feburay where the young people will show off their current skills and show how an alternative to the national curriculum can be a benefit to young people and support career development.

Turning the Corner was approached by the business association for support for creating advertising for the late night Christmas opening within Saltburn. The result was that the above banners were produced, with support of Saltburn Primary school who provided all the imagery and Eddie Guy who produced the banners for the association. The outcome of this was that the evening was very successful and Turning the Corner was thanked for their support but moreover the young people who provided the imagery for the banners were given a chance to shine in the community they live in.

Young people in Skelton, East Cleveland, have been learning new skills after taking part in a Turning the Corner (TTC) initiative to create seating and eye-catching mosaic artwork to enhance the exterior of local businesses and organisations.

Twelve young people aged 11 to 14 years old took part in the initiative at Skelton Youth Centre during the summer holidays where they gained experience in traditional skills including green woodworking and carving alongside skilled carpenter, Keith Ferry of Woodland Connections. They also got to put their artistic talents to the test, with the help of professional artists Helen Gaunt and Derek Mosey to create seven mosaics depicting imagery relating to the businesses and organisations due to receive them such as a television, a pair of scissors, a newspaper and a flower.

Rosie Waugh was one of the young people to take part in the initiative. She said: “It’s been fandabidozi! I’ve enjoyed learning about woodwork and making something that people can use and enjoy.”

Four countryside benches and the seven mosaics are due to be delivered and installed at the premises of eleven businesses and organisations involved in the scheme, including Elmora Garden Nurseries, Peter Short Butchers, Teesside Hospice and the Wheely Playful Project.

Mario Tokarski owner of Mario’s Elmora Garden Nurseries based at North Skelton was pleased to be involved in the scheme, he said: “The seating will be particularly beneficial to older members of the community who visit the nurseries, giving them time to sit down, relax and enjoy the surroundings. The young people have done a really good job.”

Mike Dent, Turning the Corner youth worker for Groundwork North East, said: “This has been a fantastic project to be involved with, bringing together young people and businesses in the area with a joint purpose. The finished products look fantastic and will really enhance the exterior of the businesses and organisations, leaving a lasting legacy of the relationships developed through the scheme.

“The project has also been really beneficial in terms of providing the young people with the chance to learn new skills and has highlighted how skills such as woodwork are as suitable for females as they are to their male peers.”

Young people have been creating seating for businesses and organisations within east cleveland. A example of this is the eye catching seating that has been placed within Elmora Garden Centre located within Skelton.

The Seating was created within Skelton Youth Centre and was completed over a six week period with support of local craftsman Keith Ferry.

The Young People who were involved took inspiration from the local environment and carved images and wrote text that represented the locations that the seating would be placed.

We were really pleased to receive this lovely note from Helen...

A group of young people in East Cleveland have been getting green fingered to build relationships with businesses, learn new skills and help the local community to bloom.

Eight young people aged 14 to 16 have been involved in a project to build and cultivate planters of flowers and vegetables, which have been presented to businesses in Saltburn to enhance their exteriors.

The latest news and happenings for the Turning the Corner project in Redcar and Cleveland will be uploaded soon!