Bulls in the City raises funds for hospice care

National World - LocalTV

A herd of hand-painted bull sculptures has charged into Birmingham as part of Bulls in the City—a free public art trail raising funds for Birmingham Hospice. With 40 large bulls and 85 calves on display, the eight-week trail hopes to shine a light on the funding crisis facing end-of-life care in the region.

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00:01The Bulls are impossible to miss, some playful, some poignant.

00:05Each one tells the story.

00:07Planted across Birmingham's most familiar streets and spaces,

00:11they form part of an eight-week trail backed by Birmingham Hospice.

00:15But this isn't just a photo op, it's a lifeline.

00:18The hospice needs over seven million pounds this year just to keep going

00:22and most of that doesn't come from the NHS.

00:24That's why this trail matters.

00:26It puts a local crisis right in front of your eyes

00:29and dresses it in colour.

00:32And so this trail is really important for helping to raise the brand profile of Birmingham Hospice.

00:37We're an organisation that support people at the end of life across the whole city

00:41and we really want this trail to help get that message out there.

00:44But also we need to raise funds, we're only 50% funded by the NHS

00:49so the rest we have to raise through fundraising

00:51and this trail is a really easy, quick way for people to be able to support the hospice.

00:56And we're hoping to raise a few hundred thousand pounds from this trail.

00:59So firstly, just really pleased that the Combined Authority is sponsoring two of the balls.

01:06And I've got one of my own, which is fantastic.

01:08But it's such an important project for both raising funds and raising the profile of the really important work the hospice does.

01:16And what we're doing by raising that profile is also creating this trail, as you know, of balls

01:24and that will attract lots of interest and it will give a sense of fun to people coming into this city, including young children over the summer.

01:33This isn't the first time Birmingham's done something like this.

01:36From owls to bears, Wildin are to trails, have pulled huge crowds and serious cash in the past.

01:43But this year's herd has a more urgent tone.

01:46Hospice demand is rising, public funding isn't and behind the colour and craft there's a simple truth.

01:52This is what survival looks like when the system falls short.

01:55So while families snap selfies, the organisers are betting on something deeper.

02:01So we're aware that Wildin Art operate art trails in support of charities up and down the country and they're really successful.

02:08And this is a really great, fun, interesting way for people to raise money for the hospice, understand what we do and why we do it.

02:15Whilst also getting out in their city, having a fun day out, understanding what art can look like.

02:21It doesn't always have to be in a stuffy art gallery. It can be fun and exciting and open to families and young people.

02:27So this was a fun, interesting, engaging way to raise the profile of Birmingham Hospice, raise some money,

02:33but also provide something for the public in Birmingham to enjoy over the summer.

02:37It's pretty clear in the UK today that it's charities, it's voluntary groups, it's often faith groups and community groups

02:45that have become the safety net for many of our communities, which is why raising funds in this way

02:51and using public art to raise a profile for these causes is so important.

02:55And that's why I'm so keen to support this project.

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