Residents at The Beeches Care Home in Stockton are now enjoying a room with a view thanks to the hard work of Art and Design students from Stockton Riverside College.



The creative bunch gave their time and efforts to improve the residents’ dining outlook by creating a mural to brighten an outdoor wall.

“The residents look out on to the wall from the lounge and dining areas,” said Customer Relations Officer for Hill Care Group, Liz Daykin.

After years of looking at plain bricks, she said it was a conversation with the home’s elderly residents that triggered the idea for a mural.



Getting in touch with Stockton Riverside College, Liz said Art and Design students quickly stepped up to the challenge.

With the budding artists coming up with a range of designs, the residents settled on a colourful garden design, complete with flowers, butterflies and birds.

Student Hayley Syson, 18, of Ingleby Barwick, said: “The mural has been quite a lot of work, often in the rain, but we have enjoyed it. It was an interesting project to do and it’s been nice to meet the residents.”

Art and Design course leader, Liz Dixon, said: “This project has been great work experience for the students, it helped develop their employability skills such as time management and working as a team.”

She added: “It also showed them how art can benefit the community and that it is nice to give something back.”

The finished mural was officially unveiled by Stockton Mayor Councillor Ken Dixon.

He said: “This project will not only enrich the lives of the people that live here, but it also will have given a sense of purpose to the students. I am sure it will bring a lot of pleasure to a lot of people for many years to come.”