The Writers Attachment Scheme
Writers Irene Robinson (second left) and Mandy Coe (second right) with Huyton Today reporters Stephanie Kettle (left) and Elizabeth Doran (right)
Local poet Irene Robinson has recently been working with Knowsley Hey pupils as part of a unique project.
Irene, who is blind, has been running writing workshops with Year 7 children from the school and helping them to develop their own writing skills.
Irene was full of praise for Hey’s budding young poets: “The pupils impressed me with their marvellous imaginations. It was nice to share ideas with them. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot."
The poet Mandy Coe is Irene’s mentor, helping her to develop her workshop skills. Mandy too has found the experience to be extremely positive.
“The project is all about making sure that people have access to writers who are good at what they do. The pupils at this school have got a real buzz from working with Irene. Hopefully they will be inspired to further pursue their own creative writing,” she said.
The activities at Knowsley Hey form part of the Writers Attachment Scheme, which has been running for four years and is jointly funded by the North West Arts Board and the Baring Foundation. Three writers - a poet, a scriptwriter and a storyteller are each currently working in three different contexts: a community centre, a mainstream school and with people with learning disabilities.
The scheme is administered by The Windows Project, which was founded in 1976. Last year, hundreds of writing sessions were co-ordinated in Merseyside and the North West with forty freelance writers and artists involved.
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