Write On! Writing Squads
Our Write On! Writing Squads are for young people interested in creative writing- any kind from poems, plays, stories, songs to texts and tweets! Each Writing Squad is led by a professional writer and associate writer, helping participants to develop their writing talents. Occasionally Writing Squads share their work, for instance at the Birmingham Book Festival. One of our Writing Squads members won the Ledbury Poetry Competition 2011 and read at the Ledbury Poetry Festival.
Writing Squads typically meet monthly (often on a Saturday) for 1.5 to 2 hours. Groups are divided into ages (roughly primary and secondary) and involve young people from 8 years to 16 (and we are also interested in working with young people beyond 16). There is a charge of £5 per session. Groups have no more than 15 members.
Writing Squads are running or being set up in Birmingham (primary & secondary groups), Coventry (secondary), Eccleshall (primary), Hereford (primary & secondary), Kidderminster (secondary), Stafford Rising Brook (secondary- home educated young people), Stratford-upon-Avon (secondary), Walsall (primary), Shrewsbury (secondary). Groups usually meet in a public library or arts venue (theatre, art gallery, etc). Brief details of groups are given below. For more information or to join a Writing Squad please contact us.
If you would like to see some of the things that the Writing Squads get up to, here is a video of one of the Hereford groups which was filmed in February 2012 made by the young people of The Rural Media Company’s Big Lottery funded project ‘Shoot Out’. Click here to view the short video of the group.
Where the Writing Squads take place:
Birmingham
Primary and secondary groups, both led by writer Helen Calcutt with support from Rebecca Whelan. They meet in Birmingham Central Library’s Centre for the Child. Please note that both of the Birmingham Writing Squads are now full. If you would like to join either of the groups when they re-start in September 2012, please email joanne[at]witingwestmidlands.org to reserve a place.
Coventry
Secondary group, led by writer Naomi Alsop with support from Rose Moulding and meeting at The Belgrade Theatre.
Eccleshall
Primary aged group, led by Harriet Goodwin with support from Samantha Hatton and meeting in Eccleshall Library.
Kidderminster
Secondary group led by writer Ian MacLeod with support from Claire Wollard and meeting at Kidderminster Library.
Hereford
There are three groups running in Hereford led by writer Brenda Read-Brown with support from Sarah Crowson and meeting in Hereford Library. There are groups for those aged 8 – 10 (please note that this is full at the present moment please email joanne[at]writingwestmidlands.org to register your interet for when the group begins again in September), 11 – 12 year olds and 13 – 16 year olds.
Stratford-upon-Avon
Secondary group, led by writer David Calcutt with support from Natalie Parker and meeting at the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre. Tickets for the Stratford Writing Squad can be purchased from the RSC’s Box Office by calling 0844 800 1110. You can also buy tickets in person at the Box Office before each Squad and on the day of each session.
Walsall
Primary group, led by writer Maeve Clarke with support from Elisabeth Charis and meeting at The New Art Gallery Walsall’s Art Library.
Stafford Rising Brook
Led by Emma Purshouse with support from Lisa Oliver this group is secondary aged and is for home educated young people aged between 12 to 16. The group meets in Rising Brook Community Fire Station one weekday a month.
Shrewsbury
Secondary group led by Deborah Alma meeting at The Lantarn on weekday afternoons every two weeks.
Where did Writing Squads come from…?
Writing Squads started in Wales over ten years ago, run by the Literature Wales (formerly the Academi). We aim to eventually replicate their comprehensive provision of activities for children and young people interested in creative writing. A very successful writing squad for older young people is run in Yorkshire, again something we aspire to emulate in the future.