Young people in Swinton helped turn hundreds of discarded laughing gas cylinders into decorative ceramic tiles to brighten up the Beechfarm estate in Swinton.
Salix Homes teamed up with Greater Manchester Police and Beechfarm Residents Association to run the art project, which aims to teach young people about the dangers of the ‘legal high’, which is also known as nitrous oxide or ‘hippy crack’.
Police in Swinton collected more than 500 of the laughing gas cylinders left behind on the city’s streets and parks and have also been visiting schools in the area to warn young people of the dangers.
The arts project took place at a fun day at community green Margaret’s Garden on Kingsley Road in Swinton on Saturday, September 12, when dozens of children created their own masterpieces using the old gas cylinders.
Jonathan Drake, head of neighbourhood services at Salix Homes, said: “The abuse of laughing gas is certainly no laughing matter and by working in partnership with the police and Beechfarm Residents Association, this arts project has successfully helped us to educate young people in Salford about the dangers of inhaling nitrous oxide.
“Worryingly, the mis-use of laughing gas is a growing problem among the younger generation and can have potentially fatal consequences, so we are very proud to support this art project that has turned a negative into a positive and puts the remnants of drug abuse to good use.”
The abuse of nitrous oxide, which can cause dizziness, nerve damage and even death when inhaled, is becoming an ever more prevalent problem among children and young people.
PC Iain Fletcher, neighbourhood beat officer in Swinton, added: “Not only have the children enjoyed doing the arts project, but we’ve also been able to educate them about the dangers of inhaling laughing gas.
“The abuse of nitrous oxide is not as safe as some young people may think it is, so by running this project and going into schools we’ve been able to reach out to hundreds of children and advise them not to touch it if they do come across it.”
The project was funded thanks to a £750 grant from Salix Homes through our ‘Your Salix, Your Say’ fund, which provides funding to projects and initiatives that will help improve neighbourhoods.
