Housing and care provider takes penguins under its wing

A Worcester-based not-for-profit provider of social housing and care has signed up to support a county community event again next summer.

Sanctuary is set to sponsor an adult and baby penguin sculpture in the great Waddle of Worcester, an eight-week public art trail that will unite the city in a quest to find eighty penguins dotted around streets and public spaces.

A Wild in Art event being brought to Worcester by St Richard’s Hospice, the trail will also help raise funds for patients affected by serious progressive illnesses and their loved ones.  The project builds on the hugely successful Worcester Stands Tall and Worcester’s Big Parade trail in 2018 and 2021, which saw giraffes and elephants displayed across the city before raising raising more than £700,000 combined.

Craig Moule, Chief Executive of Sanctuary, said: “We were proud to be part of the last art trail in Worcester and, as a significant local employer, it was very rewarding to see the positive impact it had on the local community as well as raising vital funds for an important local charity.

“I’ll be encouraging our colleagues and their friends and families to get involved again in 2024 – I’m confident it will be another very successful event that brings our community together.”

Forty large penguins will be painted by artists while their 40 chicks will be designed and decorated by students and teachers in local schools.

Sara Matthews, Business Development Manager for St Richard’s Hospice, said: “We’re so grateful to our friends at Sanctuary for waddling with us again this year after adopting an elephant in 2021.  Last time the team at Sanctuary took great pride in their sculpture and we look forward to seeing their happy feet out on the six-mile route again next year.”

Forty large penguins will be designed by artists and selected by sponsors to appear along the six-mile route. To register interest as an artist visit our Artist page.

Forty baby penguins will be available for adoption by local schools and community groups. To register interest as a school or community group visit or Schools page.

You can follow the great Waddle of Worcester on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The great Waddle of Worcester is supported by Presenting Partners; Crowngate, DRPG, Worcester City Council and Worcestershire Ambassadors, Community and Education Partner; Worcester BID and Media Partners; the Worcester News and BBC Hereford & Worcester.