Onside joins Worcester's Big Parade

Onside are very excited to collaborate with Worcester’s Big Parade this summer, to promote mental health awareness to thousands of residents and visitors enjoying the eight-week elephant-themed sculpture trail.

The Wild in Art event is being brought to Worcester by St Richard’s Hospice. The project builds on the hugely successful Worcester Stands Tall giraffe trail in 2018, which saw giraffe sculptures displayed across the city.

Onside's elephant will not only add a splash of colour to city streets and public spaces but, it’s hoped, will also open up a dialogue about the challenges some are facing in the community and signpost them to local help and guidance.

Kate Harvey, Onside Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be a partner in Worcester’s Big Parade and raising awareness of the vital importance of good mental health and wellbeing. This will be such an important event this summer; encouraging people to get out and about again and reconnect with family, friends and the outdoors.

“We’re very aware that reconnecting with others might prove challenging for some people particularly those who might face exclusion or isolation through disability, mental ill health or their age.  We’re keen to signpost support services available, promote ways to improve mental health and wellbeing including highlighting how people can become more engaged and active in their communities.”

Alongside the trail of large elephant sculptures will be a mini parade of around 35 calves designed and decorated by local schools and community groups. Thanks to support from Worcester Bosch, Onside will also benefit from an elephant calf with members of the charity’s Wellbeing Support Services getting to create their own ‘ele-fantastic’ work of art.

Sara Matthews, Business Development Manager for St Richard’s Hospice, said: “We’re really delighted to be partnering with Onside as part of Worcester’s Big Parade; an event which is very much about bringing the community together again. 

“Mental health is often talked about as the ‘elephant in the room’; one of those enormous subjects that people don’t know quite know how to approach.  We hope that by bringing this topic out onto the streets of Worcester we can get people talking and raise awareness of the help and support that’s available to people locally.”

Look out for more news about this exciting project, coming soon!