ARTISTS young and old will be able to take part in the Pyramids Shopping Centre art workshops to support a youth charity.

Every Friday and Saturday from July 28 until August 31, children, young people and adults can express their artistic talents at the centre to support local youth charity HYPE (Helping Young People Everywhere) with its Park Inner Park project to transform part of Birkenhead Park.

Budding artists can join the workshops, held at 10am to 4pm in a unit next to the Pyramids food court where they will be challenged with drawing anything they like that begins with the letter ‘P’.

Creations must be accompanied with a reason why it has been chosen and what it means to the designer.

All designs will be displayed in the window of the workspace and voucher prizes to spend at Pyramids will be awarded for stand-out entries.

The artwork will also be entered into a competition with the most creative being selected to be incorporated into a special Park Inner Park mural.

There will be four competition categories – under sevens, juniors, secondary school age and adults, with the winners being announced at a special awards ceremony on Saturday, August 2.

Centre manager at Pyramids Derek Millar said: “We’re thrilled to be able to support HYPE in its efforts to make Birkenhead Park by Park Road East an inviting and thriving green space for the benefit of our residents.

"Once completed it will attract more nature and will be a wonderful and calming environment to spend time in.”

HYPE is a non-profit organisation supporting and empowering young people across Merseyside to reach their full potential.

It runs a programme of activities, events and workshops designed to help build confidence as well as offering mentoring and guidance as the youngsters navigate towards adulthood.

Matthew Houghton, project manager at HYPE said: “The project within the park has been running since 2016 and we have worked with hundreds of young people throughout the consultation and delivery of our workshops.

“We’ve enjoyed regenerating this particular corner of Birkenhead Park so we can provide kids from all backgrounds and abilities with a great place to further develop as people through learning and sporting activities.

“There are many therapeutic benefits of taking part in art and creativity so the competition is perfectly aligned with our overall aim.

“It’s also great fun experimenting and putting your imagination on paper so we’re excited to see many brilliant designs and displaying them in the window – what could be better than an all-inclusive community art gallery?

“Throughout the summer holidays we will also be running some Facebook Live events in conjunction with Central Park, New York from The Pyramids and Birkenhead Park.

Derek added: “The workshops will be a great way for people to contribute to a wonderful initiative that will have a direct and positive impact for locals and our young across the county.

"It’s going to be great to welcome everyone to the centre and for all to enjoy exploring their creative side.”

All designs will be submitted into a competition and the winners will be announced on September 2 at 1pm at the centre.

Design sheets can also be downloaded from the events page on the HYPE website at www.hype-merseyside.co.uk