TALENTED volunteers from the Prince's Trust have added their artistic touch to a grubby building to give it a new lease of life.A team of seven volunteers painted murals on three walls of a new community resource centre, which is currently under construction at Downing Primary School, in Ipswich.

TALENTED volunteers from the Prince's Trust have added their artistic touch to a grubby building to give it a new lease of life.

A team of seven volunteers painted murals on three walls of a new community resource centre, which is currently under construction at Downing Primary School, in Ipswich.

The volunteers, who also raised the £80 needed to complete the facelift, have been working on the bright new image for three weeks. The murals feature the Solar System and computer game characters.

The centre, which will eventually include an internet café and a meeting room, is a converted classroom at the school.

Headteacher Margo Barker said: "They have worked really hard and made it look lovely.

"They've brightened up the whole area because before it was really grubby. They really have exceeded themselves."

Ola Anderson, 27, of Wallace Road, Ipswich, is the team leader of the volunteers and said he is proud of the end result.

"They feel a sense of achievement and they've taken pride in their work, he said.

"You can see when the kids come out of their classrooms that they are really happy with what we've done. It was so grubby before and now it's really colourful."

The classroom conversion, which began last week, is being funded through a £50,000 grant from the Suffolk Children's Fund and will be completed by the end of May.

It is thought to be the first time such a facility, which includes an internet café, has been incorporated into a school site.

Fast Facts

The Prince's Trust is the UK's leading youth charity, enabling 14-30 year olds to develop skills to help them move forward with their lives.

The trust offers a range of opportunities, including training, personal development, business start up support, mentoring and advice.

The trust helps young people who are unemployed, underskilled, within or leaving the criminal justice system, leaving care, disabled, parenting alone or facing discrimination.

Since it was founded by The Prince of Wales in 1976, the trust has provided funding and support to more than 400,000 young people.

A special presentation evening, which will be attended by the Ipswich volunteers, is being held at the Novotel, in Ipswich, on May 22 from 7pm.

Source: www.princes-trust.org.uk