Junior Snailway as part of Snailspace arts trail around Brighton raises £44,000

Sir Rod Aldridge (left) of The Aldridge Foundation, CEO of Martlets Hospice Imelda Glackin (centre), and author and illustrator Nick Sharratt (right) at the launch of the Junior Snailway campaign. Photograph: Liz Finlayson/ Vervate

Martlets Hospice has announced that the Junior Snailway project as part of its Snailspace arts trail has raised £44,000.

The Snailspace trail in aid of the Hove hospice ran for nine weeks around the city from September to November last year.

Fifty-seven schools and children's organisations in Brighton and Hove signed up to design and paint their own junior snail sculpture.

The sculptures were displayed alongside the 50 giant snail sculptures in the trail and the schools and organisations involved committed to undertaking additional fundraising for the hospice.

The launch of the Junior Snailway campaign. Phtograph: Liz Finlayson/ Vervate

Community fundraising officer at Martlets Liz Davies said: “We are so grateful to the thousands of children that engaged with our Junior Snailway project and all the schools and youth organisations that took part.

"We’re delighted that the feedback has been so positive from everyone and that they felt proud to be part of such an inspiring and creative project.

"The figure of £44,000 is amazing and money is still coming in.

"It will go towards helping Martlets give the very best care to local people with terminal illness and their families.”

Author and illustrator Nick Sharratt was and ambassador of the project. It was also supported by educational charity and sponsor of the Snailspace arts trail The Aldridge Foundation.

In December, the 50 giant snail sculptures in the arts trail raised £231,400 for the hospice at auction.

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Snailspace auction raises more than £230,000 for Martlets Hospice