YOUNG offenders have been invited to work with York Minster to create a modern, street art-inspired memorial to the First World War.

The ID project will encourage young people to explore the legacy of the conflict while working with one of the world’s top female street artists, CBLOXX, towards their bronze level Arts Award.

As part of the cathedral’s community outreach programme to encourage new audiences into the Minster, the 16 to 18-year-olds will develop their artistic talents over a 10 week period, resulting in the creation of a huge memorial for display in the cathedral.

York Minster’s community engagement officer Helen Moore said: “The work will be inspired by York Minster’s memorials and displays about the First World War including the Kings Book of York Heroes, which is part of the cathedral’s collection and is a unique memorial to York people killed in service due to the conflict.

“The book includes names and biographies but also individual photographs, which is unusual for a memorial, and we hope will help the young people relate to the people included.”

Artist CBLOXX, real name Joy Gilleard, said: “It will be great to see the young people of York cultivate their own creative identity which they can feel proud of, while building up to making their mark at York Minster’s autumn event.”

The project, being run in partnership with the City of York Council Youth Offending Team, is a legacy of the York Minster Nights event which took place in October last year.

It is one of three projects for children and young people being run by York Minster to commemorate the centenary.

For further details, visit www.yorkminster.org.