St Catherine's Hospice is calling on local schools, early years learning groups and community groups to get involved in an exciting, large scale art project while supporting their local hospice.

Eight schools have already signed up for St Catherine's Young Heart Project. This is part of the hospice's HeART to Heart trail, sponsored by Thakeham, which will give visitors a chance to follow a trail of giant hearts across Sussex and Surrey this summer. These hearts will be displayed in the areas St Catherine's provides people with expert end of life care.  

And there's still chance for other local schools, early year learning groups and community groups to become a crucial part of the hospice's trail by joining the Young Hearts project.

The project involves school or groups customising a wire heart for display in local spaces such as libraries and shopping centres. Their wire hearts will be displayed alongside larger heart sculptures. These sculptures have been uniquely designed by local artists and individually sponsored by local businesses and organisations.

Each wire heart has also been handmade by a local artist and designed to create a beautiful structure that encourages children's creative freedom. There is also the opportunity for young people to take part in workshops with local artists.

Whyteleafe School in Tandridge, Surrey has already signed up to the project. Jenny Taylor, a Year 3 teacher at the school said, "We're excited to take part in St Catherine's Young Heart Project and to design a heart for the trail. We're having a competition for the best designed heart and are looking forward to using our new art studio to give us inspiration. Our school council voted for St Catherine's as our charity for the year. And we're looking forward to holding lots of fun events to help raise money for our local hospice."

Abi Harley, Community Fundraiser at St Catherine's said, "I hope lots of schools and groups will get involved in our exciting art trail. And I'm looking forward to seeing the creations from talented young people across our community. To take part in Young Hearts, we ask your school or group to raise £500 or more to for your mini heart. The money you raise will help us care for more terminally ill people and their family and friends in the future. And will help us make sure that in years to come, nobody in our community has to face death and loss alone."

Ready to open your heart? To sign up or for more information please contact Abi Harley, Community Fundraiser at St Catherine's on 01293 447319 or email comfun@stch.org.uk 

Please note designs need to be completed by the end of May 2019.