Solopress supports Waddle-On-Sea and Havens Hospices

This summer, the streets of Southend will come alive with penguins. Not the real kind, of course—but an eye-catching colony of sculptures, forming a public art trail called Waddle-On-Sea to raise funds and awareness for Havens Hospices. We’re delighted to confirm that Solopress will once again be part of the trail by sponsoring one of these unique creations.

This latest event continues our ongoing partnership with Havens Hospices. The trail will feature more than 40 large penguin sculptures, plus dozens of baby penguins decorated by local schools and community groups. Public art event specialist Wild In Art places these sculptures around the city for locals and visitors to discover throughout summer 2025.

Proud supporters of Havens Hospices

Our involvement with Waddle-On-Sea builds on a longstanding relationship between Solopress and Havens Hospices. As our nominated charity, they benefit not only from fundraising efforts and event sponsorships, but also from the passion and generosity of our team, who regularly take part in challenges and initiatives in aid of the cause.

Most recently, colleagues from Solopress entered the Race4Business 2025, a fun run around Chelmsford’s Central Park, bringing together companies from across Essex in support of the hospice. In April, we hosted our Charity Golf Day, which brought together teams of players for a competitive round and raised funds for Havens Hospices. 

The work behind Waddle-On-Sea

Havens Hospices provides free, specialist care for people of all ages who are living with incurable conditions. Their services support not just patients, but also their families, offering medical, practical and emotional care through some of life’s most challenging moments.

Havens provides care at their hospices—Fair Havens in Southend and Little Havens in Benfleet—as well as in people’s homes and in the community. Staffed by highly trained professionals, their work is made possible by charitable donations, with fundraising events like Waddle-On-Sea playing a vital role.

Filling in the blanks

The Waddle-On-Sea trail is organised by Wild in Art, a specialist in large-scale public art events with a charitable focus. The process begins with a simple blank sculpture, in this case a penguin, ready to be transformed.

Local artists are invited to submit their designs, each bringing their own style and materials to the challenge. Once selected, they receive a full-size sculpture to decorate in their studio, applying their design directly to the surface.

At the same time, local businesses are given the opportunity to sponsor a finished piece, selecting from the shortlisted designs. Each sponsor’s name appears on the sculpture’s plinth, which is then placed at a key point along the trail through Southend’s busiest streets, parks and seafront.

It’s a win on all sides: artists get to showcase their work to a wide audience, the city is brightened by unique and playful installations, businesses gain positive visibility, and, most importantly, funds and awareness are raised for a vital cause. In this case, every penguin on the trail helps support the work of Havens Hospices.

Our sponsored sculpture: joy in mosaic form

As part of the trail, Solopress is sponsoring a penguin sculpture designed and created by local mosaicist Jen French. Her artwork features a joyful coastal scene, capturing penguins in playful poses as they frolic by the seaside.

The design appealed to us for several reasons. The colour palette is vibrant and uplifting, depicting a beautifully composed scene, and the mosaic medium brings an added layer of texture and craftsmanship that sets the sculpture apart. As a print company, we admire projects that celebrate visual creativity and colour—and this design does exactly that.

We’re also proud to support a local artist whose work has featured across Essex and beyond. Jen French has been producing mosaic pieces since 2008 and has exhibited at RHS Hyde Hall, the Leigh Art Trail and the Beecroft Gallery. Her practice often draws on the natural world for inspiration, making her work a perfect fit for a trail rooted in care, community and creativity. You can read more about Jen and her work at jenfrenchmosaics.co.uk.

We’ve dabbled before…

We’re proud to support this next chapter of large-scale public art installations, but it’s not the first time we’ve been involved. Waddle-On-Sea follows the success of previous events—Hares About Town in 2021 and Herd In The City in 2023. Herd In The City saw over 40 elephant sculptures brighten up the city, and Solopress was among the local businesses who backed the trail in support of Havens Hospices. You can read about our involvement in that event here.

It’s a model that works. Families get to enjoy an engaging free day out, schools and youth groups participate in creative activities, and the event attracts new visitors and footfall to the city. Most importantly, it raises valuable funds for local hospice care—something we’re proud to stand behind.

In 2023, we also sponsored a character in Morph’s Epic Art Adventure, a London-wide event raising money for Whizz-Kidz, a charity that supports young wheelchair users. Our sculpture, named Astromorph, reimagined Morph as a space explorer—complete with silver suit and jetpack. You can find out more about that particular adventure on our blog.

When to visit Waddle-On-Sea—and how to get involved

The trail launches in July 2025 and will run for just over six weeks. You’ll find the penguins dotted throughout Southend-on-Sea, from the city centre to the seafront and surrounding parks. Maps and apps will be available closer to the time to help visitors track down every sculpture, including our very own mosaic penguin.

You can stay updated with trail news via the official Waddle on Sea website, where you’ll also find details on how to get involved. There are opportunities for:

• Local artists: Submit your design to be selected as one of the trail’s featured creatives
• Volunteers: Support the trail through ambassador roles, helping visitors and maintaining sculptures
• Schools and youth groups: Decorate one of the smaller penguins as part of a creative learning project
• Businesses: Sponsor a sculpture and align your brand with a high-profile local event

You can also subscribe to the newsletter that features updates and information as the trail approaches.

Supporting charities through print

If you’re part of a registered charity, it’s worth knowing that Solopress offers VAT-free printing along with an automatic 10% discount on all products in our range. Whether you’re creating leaflets for a fundraising campaign, exhibition materials for a public event or signage for your premises, we’re here to help you print what matters—while keeping costs under control. Learn more at solopress.com/charity.

We’re looking forward to seeing our penguin on the trail this summer, alongside the rest of the huddle. Whether you’re a local resident, a visitor to Southend or a long-standing supporter of Havens Hospices, we hope you’ll take a stroll, discover some inspiring art—and help support hospice care that makes every day count.