A second artist has been selected to design one of BH Live’s sponsored tail sculptures as part of Julia’s House ‘Great Tail Trail’.
The Great Tail Trail will see more than 45 giant and 40 tiny tail sculptures located across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in a FREE eight-week event between 5 April and 1 June 2025.
BH Live was announced as the Great Tail Trail’s official Community Partner earlier this year. The registered charity and social enterprise will be accommodating multiple tails at its leisure centres and venues including Bournemouth International Centre, BH Live Active Littledown, and Pelhams.
Organised by Julia’s House in partnership with Wild in Art, each sculpture will be sponsored by a local business, community group or individual to raise vital funds for Julia’s House, a Dorset and Wiltshire-based children’s hospice charity that provides clinical, practical and emotional support for families caring for a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition.
About BH Live’s chosen artist
Selected from more than 40 designs, Kelly Ma’s community-inspired medium tail sculpture will be situated at BH Live Active, Pelhams when the trail launches this spring. As part of the event, visitors to the sculpture will be able to find out more about the leisure centre and its facilities.
BH Live sat down with Kelly to find out more about her artistic background and inspiration for the design:
How does it feel to have your design selected by BH Live?
“I’m so thrilled to have my design sponsored by BH Live. They are an amazing charity that works hard to enrich their local communities and beyond. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for me to form part of Julia’s House’s wonderful trail.”
What is your artistic background?
“My work is often community-focused, and tends to explore playful visual connections between people, culture and cities. I enjoy capturing snippets of the local surroundings and moments we may take for granted, finding joy in the everyday.”
What inspired you to create your design?
“Inspired by the incredible care and support that Julia’s House provides for families and their children during their most difficult times, this piece acknowledges all the wonderful activities that can be experienced at their hospices. These include getting creative through music and crafts, keeping active, and providing a space to do general home activities together.”
“These activities enable families to continue to create quality memories together at a time when they need it most. The marine characters are inspired by Dorset’s local wildlife, with a nod to the South Coast.”
Why did you want to get involved with The Great Tail Trail?
I’ve always had such a brilliant time collaborating on projects with Wild In Art. Being able to support a cause as wonderful as Julia’s House through this creative process is just the cherry on top. Plus, it’s allowed me to design some marine life, which I love to do!”
What makes a great artist?
“I think a great artist is someone who stays curious; is always looking to learn; and is genuinely passionate about what they do.”
BH Live Active, Pelhams is operated by registered charity and social enterprise BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.
On behalf of BH Live, Rob Cunningham, Director of Leisure and Business Development shared;
“We are delighted to have worked with Wild In Art, who has partnered with some incredibly talented artists, to choose our second sculpture design. We were so impressed with Kelly’s ideas – her concept is fun, colourful, and shows a great understanding of BH Live and Julia’s House’s charitable aims. We can’t wait for everyone to see the finished sculpture on the Great Tail Trail next year.”
“It’s been exciting to see Kelly’s mermaid tail design for BH Live come to life and we can’t wait for the start of the trail so we can officially unveil it alongside all the other wonderful designs,” says Laura Maidment, Public Fundraising Manager for Julia’s House. “It’s going to look fantastic when the sculpture is in place at Pelhams – we know it’ll be a real crowd-pleaser!”
For more information about Pelhams, visit bhliveactive.org.uk/pelhams
For more information about Julia’s House and The Great Tail Trail, visit juliashouse.org.uk/tail-trail
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Daisy Saunders, PR & Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
For more information about Julia’s House and ‘The Great Tail Trail’ please contact:
Susie Carver, Media and Communications Officer
E: susie.carver@juliashouse.org
About BH Live
BH Live is a leading operator of leisure and event venues – a registered charity and social enterprise.
Our vision is to create sustainable and inspiring opportunities, deliver great experiences for our communities, and improve health and well-being.
Our organisational and charitable purpose is to generate:
- More participation – through the provision of leisure facilities to encourage active communities, improved health, and well-being
- Higher audiences – through the provision of a diverse range of cultural and artistic events that appeal to a wide audience
- Greater economic and social benefit – through hosting major conferences, exhibitions, and events for the benefit of the local, regional, and international economies and people
Working with support from our partners we pursue our social objectives in a financially sustainable way.
We manage a diverse portfolio of venues and facilities, with millions of visits per year. Our geographical reach spans across 15 venues and attractions across the Bournemouth (BCP) and Portsmouth conurbations, together with Fairfield Halls in Croydon.
We operate in various market sectors, including sport and leisure, entertainment, conferences and exhibitions, hospitality, and catering services. Whilst each has its market focus, they have much in common and much to share.
Charitable activities are delivered by BH Live, with trading activities being delivered by BH Live Enterprises Limited (any surplus made by the trading subsidiary is gift aided in full to the charity).
We are at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy. Together with our partners we are helping to change lives and make a positive impact in the community.
For more visit bhlive.org.uk.
Get social with us: LinkedIn and X @BHLIVE_UK | Facebook @SocialEnterpriseBHLive | Instagram @bhliveuk
BH Live is a leisure and cultural trust, established in 2010 as a ‘non profit distributing organisation’ (NPDO) for public benefit to promote participation in leisure and cultural events. BH Live is a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity. Charity No: 1138311. Company No: 07092112. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. BH Live (Enterprises) Ltd, is a Private Company Limited by Shares and a wholly owned subsidiary of BH Live. Company No: 07175626. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. Registered Office: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH. Registered in England and Wales.
About Julia’s House
Julia’s House is the local charity dedicated to supporting the families of children with life-
limiting or life-threatening conditions in the heart of the community in Dorset and Wiltshire. Many of these children require round-the-clock care, which has a huge impact on family life.
Julia’s House provides specialist care that’s individualised for each family and includes care for the seriously ill child, family support, emergency and end of life care. Parents can choose when, where and how they receive this support – at home, in the community or at one of the charity’s two hospices in Corfe Mullen and Devizes – making it a truly flexible service. Julia’s House is there for the whole family, not just the sick child, providing emotional support and social opportunities too for parents, grandparents and siblings to help break the cycle of anxiety and isolation that can lead a family to breaking point.
This regular clinical care, respite, practical and emotional support, plus emergency end of life care and bereavement support is provided completely free to families, thanks to the generosity of the local community. Julia’s House relies on public donations, fundraising and legacies for around 92% of the money needed to keep running its vital service in Dorset and Wiltshire.
Julia’s House children’s hospice cares for nearly 200 families across Dorset and Wiltshire. Currently nearly 80% of the children supported by Julia’s House need two care team members present during their community sessions due to the complexity of their condition. And as more life-limited children are living for longer and with increasingly more complex care needs, demand for the specialist care that Julia’s House provides is expected to rise in the coming years.
The service that Julia’s House provides has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission.
Julia’s House was named the UK’s ‘Best Charity to Work For’ at the Best Companies Awards in November 2023, and achieved a ranking of 14, its highest ever, in the national companies to work for category. Julia’s House has maintained its position in the Top 100 for the last fifteen years.
juliashouse.org | @juliashousechildrenshopsice | #juliashouse
About Wild In Art
Wild in Art is the leading producer of spectacular public art events that entertain, enrich, inform and leave a lasting legacy. It brings together businesses and creative sectors with schools and local communities through the creation of uniquely painted sculptures.
Since 2008 Wild in Art has animated cities across the world including Manchester, Sydney, Auckland, Cape Town and São Paulo, and created trails for the London 2012 Olympics, the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Historic Royal Palaces and Penguin Random House.
Wild in Art events have:
- Enabled over £26.3m to be raised for charitable causes
- Injected £4.3m into local creative communities
- Engaged over 1.25 million young people in learning programmes
- Helped millions of people of all ages to experience art in non-traditional settings
wildinart.co.uk | @wildinart | #wildinart
About Pelhams Park Leisure Centre
Located in Kinson (North Bournemouth), BH Live Active, Pelhams is operated by the registered charity BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.
A vibrant community hub, the team at Pelhams works closely with the local community and health groups to provide fitness and social activities for all.
High-quality fitness facilities include a recently refurbished gym (2023) with natural daylight and park views. Equipment includes Technogym’s cardio, resistance equipment for strength and toning, free weights and functional fitness space. An exercise referral team provides guidance and support for people recovering from an illness, injury or who are living with long term health condition.
Swimming facilities include two pools with lane swimming, public swim sessions, pool-based classes, fun for young people, lessons and more. There is also a sauna for post workout relaxation.
Group exercise classes run seven days a week including Les Mills™ BodyPump, BodyJam, BodyCombat, Sprint, Dance, Lifting Techniques, HIIT, yoga, Pilates, Core, Zumba and so much more. There also a dedicated Technogym Group cycle studio with daily classes.
Pelhams is home to BH Live Active’s only Wellness Hub. With power-assisted exercise equipment and classes, this specialist area is a great introduction to being more active. (not included in standard adult membership; extra charges apply).
Open to members and non members there is a Terrace Café with free customer WiFi and a children’s soft play facility. Here you can buy snacks, meals and drinks to enjoy indoors or outdoors.
Outdoors there are outdoor tennis courts for hire plus floodlit 3G rubber crumb artificial training pitches. A £240K investment to refurbish the five-a-side football pitches completed in November 2024.
Free customer parking including accessible spaces for blue badge holders, subject to availability.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk/pelhams
Get social with us: X and Instagram @bhliveactive | Facebook @pelhamsparkleisurecentre