Children from an inner-city school are unleashing their creativity, in a unique project launched by developers driving forward the £80m regeneration of Hull’s Fruit Market waterside district.
The pupils are developing their creative thinking and business acumen in the initiative launched by the Wykeland Beal joint venture company leading Hull’s largest urban regeneration scheme.
The project involves children from Chiltern Primary School in west Hull learning about the exciting rejuvenation of the Fruit Market and being mentored by executives from Wykeland Beal to turn their creative ideas into products.
Wykeland Beal has been formed by two long-established local companies, commercial developer Wykeland Group and housebuilder Beal Homes, to drive forward the transformation of the Fruit Market, working in partnership with Hull City Council.
The rejuvenation of the Fruit Market is the most significant urban regeneration scheme in a city enjoying unprecedented investment and Wykeland Beal has commissioned the ambitious, multi-layered school project to enable Chiltern Primary and its pupils to benefit from the creation of Hull’s first urban village.
The project, called “Go See! Go 3D!”, is structured in two parts, beginning with the youngsters making a series of visits to professionals working in the Fruit Market and taking part in hands-on workshops to learn new skills. Phase two sees the children invent their own products, working with the project’s Lead Artist Simon Crook, experts from the Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) tech hub in the Fruit Market and their mentors from Wykeland Beal.
The children, aged nine and 10, will also be supported by young entrepreneur Alex Youden, of 3D printing company NFire Labs, based at C4DI. Alex will work with Simon and the children to create the coding and computer-aided design files to make 3D printed models of their product prototypes.
The pupils will then present their business ideas to a “Dragon’s Den”-style panel of business leaders, including Wykeland Group Managing Director Dominic Gibbons and Beal Homes Chairman and Managing Director Richard Beal.
Wykeland Beal executives say Go See! Go 3D! will enable the school’s pupils to connect with the world of work through the remarkable renaissance of the Fruit Market, as well as helping them to develop confidence, self-esteem, communication, teamwork and relationship skills.
Mr Gibbons said: “It’s important the transformation of the Fruit Market creates a long-term legacy for the city, by combining physical, cultural and social regeneration.
“Part of that legacy is connecting these children with how their city is moving forward and the entrepreneurs and creatives that are at the forefront of the change.
“It’s a collaborative model that excites and inspires the children to unlock their own creativity, learning from entrepreneurs and innovators and supported by our own mentors.”
Mr Beal added: “This is a really exciting project and a fantastic opportunity to nurture the entrepreneurs and creatives of the future.
“The children have a real hunger for knowledge and their enthusiasm is infectious. With all the creative ventures springing up in the Fruit Market, there could not be a better place for them to develop innovative ideas.”
The project is now in full flow with the youngsters having visited creative businesses in the Fruit Market and at C4DI and toured Humber Street in the heart of the ever-evolving waterfront district. In the New Year they will return to see work under way on the first properties in the new residential development of 101 mews-style homes that will bring contemporary city living to Hull.
Elaine Burke, Community Engagement Consultant for Wykeland Beal, said: “This project is designed to harness the unique creative and digital environment of the Fruit Market, and ripple out this magic to these children. It’s showing them how they can turn their great ideas into great products, and create bright futures for themselves in the years ahead.”
