Posted on: 1 July 2025
A burst of colour and creativity is transforming Harrow CAMHS, thanks to a series of graffiti workshops aimed at re-imagining the clinic space through the eyes of young people.
Since Easter, over ten young people have taken part in the workshops, led by local street artist Olas Art, with support from Sonya Lewin, CNWL Participation Lead, and Alezena Parry, CNWL Business Manager.
The sessions form part of a larger mural project funded by CNWL NHS Health Charity, with the goal of making the clinic feel more welcoming and youth friendly. The idea for the project came directly from Harrow CAMHS' HUB participation group, where young people shared feedback that the clinic felt “too clinical”. In response, the team developed a creative programme that would allow service users to have a direct hand in shaping the space around them.
Young people experimented with stencils, spray paints, typography and bold colour schemes—transforming old vinyl records into vibrant pieces of art. The sessions have also incorporated music into the creative process.
One young person shared: “Really interesting experience with stencils, paints and typography. Enjoyed how the workshop incorporated music into the art, so best of both worlds.”
The artwork produced will feed into the design of a larger mural to be installed at Harrow CAMHS in September 2025 – so watch this space!
Harrow CAMHS extends a heartfelt thank you to the CNWL NHS Health Charity for making the project possible. Sonya said “We are incredibly grateful to the charity. This project simply wouldn’t have happened without their generous support.”