Hares About Town – Havens Hospices Project

Friars have been incredibly lucky to take part in a wonderful project over the past couple of years. HaresAbout Town is going to be a spectacular public art event in partnership with Wild in Art that will weave its way across Southend on Sea from July for 10 weeks in 2021. Hare sculptures, each one individually designed by an artist and sponsored by a business, form a free, fun, family-friendly trail of discovery for local people to explore and enjoy!

Schools and other organisations were invited to take part in the project, and we received our very own leveret to design and paint to take part in this exciting art trail! After launching a school competition, a winning design was chosen and ‘Friars McFruitface’ was born:

Our winning designer was Jayden, who has since moved on to secondary school.

Although the art trail had been delayed due to the pandemic, it is finally able to take place in July 2021. It is a wonderful opportunity to come together and raise money for a much-loved local charity (Havens Hospice) and it will also deliver significant economic, social and cultural benefits to the town following a turbulent year.

I would like to thank all of the staff and children who have taken part in the project, and a huge thank you to those who have supported the Easter Egg raffle, where the proceeds from this will be donated to Havens Hospice. A non-uniform day is being held to raise further funds too.

After the art trail, Friars McFruitface will be able to return to school where he will remain a living legacy of our part in this wonderful event and charity fund-raiser.