POVERTY, bullying and community spirit were touched on in a youth art project in Blackbird Leys.

Over the past six months, the Leys Community Development Initiative (CDI) has invited children and teens aged nine and above to create paintings, drawings and sculpture based around the things that matter to them for a series entitled My World, My Life.

About 40 young people took part, with the end results exhibited at Blackbird Leys Community Centre, Blackbird Leys Road, over the weekend.

Diversionary project worker Rory Campbell said: “My World, My Life is about using art to gain an insight into how the young people see the world.

“I was really surprised by how important they felt it was being able to get on with each other, and accepting people from all kinds of different backgrounds. They felt that equality was important and they weren’t seeing enough of it.

“The Leys is still a relatively deprived area compared to some parts of Oxford and kids are aware that some people in the city are better off than them.

“But because the Leys is quite multicultural, they’re aware that all sorts of different backgrounds get along well with each other. They see that every day.”

He said themes of war and poverty had been commonly expressed by the youngsters taking part.

Mr Campbell added: “On a national scale, they see wars going on between cultures, and see that as a bit funny because their friends are from different cultures, and they get along.”

The artwork was produced from January to July during the CDI’s Friday after-school sessions.

As well as individual pursuits, youngsters worked together on a large sculpture of a tree made from junk found in the streets such as broken toys and bike wheels.

The finished product was named The Tree of Life and bore the slogan: “When a tree is planted in the city, all the people will eat.”

Windale Primary School pupil Malaikah Iukonyonoi, 10, said: “I really enjoyed the project. I made a picture on a canvas, and I helped with the big tree. It was inspirational.”