The power of storytelling with the Young Writers Programme
Our Trust has partnered with the First Story’s Young Writers Programme, giving our academies the opportunity to join a network of young writers discovering the power of storytelling.
The 7 West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester academies involved have developed their creativity, confidence, and thanks to their Writer-in-Residence, have been inspired to explore new writing styles! This work has culminated into a professionally printed anthology of work to cherish and be proud of.
With over 150 students participating, over 140 hours of creative writing has taken place. The 7 schools involved received special guidance from one of the 7 Writers-in-Residence:
Sairish Hussain
Bradford based author and Lecturer in Creative Writing
Nik Berry
a Manchester-based writer and performer who has toured the UK and overseas for over 20 years
Matt Abbott
a poet, educator and activist from Wakefield
Ruth Awolola
a poet, performer, theatre-maker and workshop facilitator based in Manchester
Ben Mellor
an award-winning writer, performer and facilitator who has worked in theatres, festivals, schools, colleges and prisons internationally
Reece Williams
a towering presence on the northern spoken word and poetry scene.
Marie Basting
author of Princess BMX, who when aged 15 was told by a careers advisor that ‘girls like her don’t become writers’
Safaa Sobri, a student from Co-op Academy Grange, said:
“I most enjoy the different prompts that each writer gives you. When you write, they give you feedback as well. It feels nice to have someone hear you out. It makes you feel like you’re heard, and the writers support you and encourage you to write more.”
Nik Berry, Writer-in-Residence at Co-op Academy North Manchester, said:
“I feel like the school staff and students have all really valued and put a lot of time into this project. Seeing the students confidence grow in imaginative creative writing, editing, and making clear their ideas has been awesome.”
Thanks to the programme, students are engaging in some fantastic wider initiatives. Harriet Hassel, from Co-op Academy Manchester, and Zlata Labjonoka, from Co-op Academy Grange, have been selected to join this year’s Young Writers Residential in July. Their applications earned them a place in a very competitive programme, joining 14 other students from across the country for a week of workshops at Arvon’s Northern writing centre in Hebden Bridge.
Former Co-op Academy Grange student, Ash Dixon, took part in this year’s Folio Academy Mentorship programme. Making 1 of the 4 selectees, Ash was able meet the mentors face-to-face to work on a creative writing project, which is due to be shared at a public London showcase in July.
Ash said:
“Working with Folio is an amazing opportunity for me and I’m grateful that I get to be a part of a fantastic scheme and work with a brilliant mentor, Sunjeev Sahota”.
Sunjeev Sahota is the author of acclaimed Novels 'Ours Are the Streets' and 'The Year of the unaways', which were shortlisted for the 2015 Man Booker Prize and also awarded a European Union Prize for Literature in 2017.
Students’ work has also seen national competition success!
100 Word Story Competition; Third Place
Hues of Abandonment
I was once a treasure, now I am treated like debt.
My palace had beautiful patterns decorating it...
Now the only craftsmanship is the designs the rust makes on the framing.
I used to be throned at the highest point there was…
Now I am left to corrode.
I was worshipped with camera flashes daily… Now the only illumination is when the dust glints in moon-rays.
I hear echoes of quills scratching and creativity flowing.
It’s gone now, the only noise is the rats scurrying.
The paint smell drove me to insanity, did it do the same to my creator?
by Sahid Sesay | Co-op Academy Manchester
Eco-Poetry Competition; Second Place
A Love That Heals
In the forest's silent embrace,
Where ancient trees hold solemn grace, A whispered breeze and rustling leaves, Tell tales of earth that ever grieves.
Beneath the canopy's verdant hue, Life's symphony, both old and new, From the smallest ant to soaring bird, Each soul's song in harmony heard.
But hark! What shadows cloud the view? Man's hand, where once the eagles flew, Concrete veins now choke the land, And scars of greed scar nature's hand.
Yet hope still dwells in Nature's heart, A seed of change, a brand-new start, For in each dew-kissed leaf and tree, Lies the promise of eternity.
Let's raise our voices, join the call, To cherish nature, stand tall,
For in protecting each fragile part, We mend the rhythm of the heart.
So let us dance with wind and rain, In forests green and fields of grain, For in the earth's embrace, we find, A love that heals, forever kind
by Jessie Njoku | Co-op Academy Manchester