Sarah Cason - Creative Writing Scheme

I found the website very helpful and a great place to find out about how to develop projects. I wanted to set up a Creative Writing scheme and literacy club for children near my university in Leeds. Creative writing is an alternative way of generating interest in the subject. Through looking at things from a creative and hands-on angle I believe young people will find a passion for writing.

Junction49 helped me set it up and gave me details of the right people to talk to.

I began a six week course at the end of May with a group of 12 young people. The benefit to that group has been great. Their literacy has improved and they have gained confidence. There are more reasons for them to be engaged now and with encouragement and support we can show them that literacy can be fun.

We put together an anthology of their work and were able to publish it. Each child got a book and the school got a copy for their library. The young people were very proud of the book they had created.

Organising the course was tough due to the young people all being under pressure because of their exams. I also ran the project with one other volunteer, and it was quite hectic, but a lot of fun. I would recommend Junction49 to other young people as it was really the biggest help, telling me where to get lesson plans and funding.

I would like to be able to run the literacy club again and feel that now I have much greater skills and understanding of what needs to be done. I'm just so grateful for all the support and encouragement I've received fm the site in helping me make my idea a reality - I can't honestly say that I would have been able to do it without you!