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, normally paid in a ‘term block’ and typically around £5 per session. Groups have between 6 and 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) and Walsall (primary). 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.

Birmingham

Primary and secondary groups, both led by writer Helen Calcutt and meeting in Birmingham Central Library.

Coventry

Secondary group, led by writer Naomi Alsop and meeting at the Belgrade Theatre.

Eccleshall

Primary aged group, led by Harriet Goodwin and meeting in Eccleshall Library.

Kidderminster

Secondary group led by writer Ian MacLeod and meeting at Kidderminster Library.

Hereford

There are three groups running in Hereford led by writer Brenda Read-Brown and meeting in Hereford Library. There are groups for those aged 8 – 10 (please note that this is full at the present moment, if you would like to be added to a waiting list, please email joanne[at]writingwestmidlands.org), 11 – 12 year olds and 13 – 16 year olds.

Stratford upon Avon

Secondary group, led by writer David Calcutt and meeting at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Tickets for the Stratford Writing Squad can be purchased from the RSC’s Box Office shortly.

Walsall

Primary group, led by writer Maeve Clarke and meeting at The New Art Gallery Walsall.

Stafford Rising Brook

Led by Emma Purshouse 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.

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.