A colourful way to support a local community charity

A talented young person working with Leicester charity Soft Touch Arts has just completed an art commission for the offices of Precision FM.

Through its charitable foundation, the company has chosen to support Soft Touch Arts during 2022-23 and as part of this, offered a commission opportunity. Twenty-year-old Niall Aston rose to the challenge and created a wonderful abstract painting that now brightens up the company’s offices.

In December 2021, Brij made a donation to support the charity’s work with vulnerable young people through the Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation’s Donor Scheme.   The donation is supporting one of the charity’s projects which provides opportunities for young people with mental health and anxiety issues that put them at a disadvantage in reaching their potential.

Soft Touch’s ST-art project offers a safe, welcoming weekly session for young people to develop creative skills whilst building their confidence and future life prospects.

Brij Thankey, CEO at Precision FM said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the artwork; Niall is clearly a very talented artist! As a business, we have always placed a great deal of importance on good mental health and know that by giving people the right opportunity, you can get the best out of them. This ethos is something we share with Soft Touch, and we wholeheartedly support their unique approach to helping young people succeed and achieve, through the creative arts. 

“With a particular love of both music and art myself, I was drawn to the work of Soft Touch, plus with our own charitable foundation, we look to support local community projects wherever we can.  Following the success of the artwork project with Niall, we plan to continue our support of Soft Touch Arts and look forward to the different ways we can work with them this year.”

Niall was absolutely thrilled to see his artwork on the wall and will be doing another piece of art for the Precision FM offices in the near future.

Christina Wigmore, Business Development Manager at Soft Touch said:  The support of businesses like Precision FM is so important to our charity.  Not only does it provide funds to keep our vital work running but special creative opportunities like this art commission can really boost a young person’s self-belief and self-worth.  Niall hopes to go to college to do art and this opportunity has given him more confidence towards making this next step”.

Soft Touch was introduced to Brij by Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation, which sets up and runs philanthropic grant-giving funds for companies, families, and others including the NHS.

Katy Green at the Community Foundation said: “Soft Touch’s work with young people is crucial – and couldn’t be achieved without grant-giving funds like Precision FM’s. Investing in local communities and local talent has a true legacy effect and it’s fantastic that Brij has been able to make such a difference”