Author encourages Barnsley pupils to put pen to paper
15 May 2017
Schoolchildren across Barnsley have had the chance to be mentored by a professional short story writer to develop their creative writing.
This week, author Nik Perring will present pupils from eight schools in the borough with their own anthology of poems, as part of a wider programme to encourage people of all ages to express themselves through poetry.
The poems have been written by 200 schoolchildren aged eight to 11 in a series of creative writing workshops led by Nik, and delivered by Barnsley Museums, as part of the Hear My Voice literary programme and part-funded by the Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership.
On 17 May at Elsecar Heritage Centre, Nik and the Mayor of Barnsley, Cllr Linda Burgess, will present each school with their own anthology of poems taken from the workshops. 150 children will also receive a national Arts Award certificate for creative writing.
Jemma Conway, learning manager at Barnsley Museums, said: “Through the Hear My Voice programme we are committed to providing creative learning opportunities for children that really engage, stimulate and inspire their interest in the spoken and written word, and Nik’s creative writing workshops did just that.
“This was the first time some of the children had met an author and Nik was extremely inspirational and encouraged them to think about becoming a writer themselves one day.”
Over the past ten years, Nik has worked extensively in schools and libraries, running workshops and courses for children and adults, and working for organisations including the BBC. He said: “It was fantastic to be asked to be part of the Hear My Voice programme of events and to mentor the children to produce their own creative writing.
“As an author and mentor I’m passionate about helping children realise their potential, and what better way to do it than putting pen to paper, allowing them to express themselves through the written word. It’s important that they know how to tell their stories and realise that they all have voices that deserve to be heard.
“Workshops like these offer the children something different and I think this project has inspired them to keep creating and writing and reading stories.”
The Hear My Voice programme is coordinated by Barnsley Museums with support from partners, and has received funding from Barnsley TUC Training Ltd.
The Hear My Voice programme aims to engage people of all ages and backgrounds with words and language, from primary school children right through to people in their nineties.
Notes to editors
Photograph shows pupils from Cherry Dale Primary School in Barnsley practicing their creative writing skills.
Photo opportunity: At 10am on 17 May, 200 pupils from schools across Barnsley will attend a presentation ceremony at Elsecar Heritage Centre, as part of the Hear My Voice literary programme.
Media contact: Mary Ferguson mary@capitalbmedia.co.uk Tel 01226 766900 or Charlotte Goldthorpe at charlotte@capitalbmedia.co.uk
For more information about Barnsley Museums contact Devinia Skirrow on 01226 787 944 or at DeviniaSkirrow@barnsley.gov.uk
Event details
Hear My Voice - Celebration Event
Wednesday 17 May 2017, Elsecar Heritage Centre
10:05am - Welcome by Jemma Conway, learning manager at Barnsley Museums
10:10am - Nik Perring and poetry readings from each school
10:45am - Presentation of anthologies and Arts Award certificates to each class, The Mayor of Barnsley, Councillor Linda Burgess:
Cherry Dale Primary School, Cudworth
Dearne Goldthorpe Primary School, Goldthorpe
Hoyland Springwood Primary School, Hoyland
Holy Rood Primary School, Barnsley
Ladywood Primary School, Barnsley
Summer Lane Primary School, Barnsley
Worsbrough Common Primary School, Barnsley
Ivanhoe Primary School, Doncaster
About Barnsley Museums
Barnsley Museums are working with partners to deliver the Hear My Voice programme and festival. The Barnsley Museums portfolio is owned and operated by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and includes the Cooper Gallery, Cannon Hall, Worsbrough Mill, Elsecar Heritage Centre and Experience Barnsley.
About Nik Perring
Nik Perring is a short story writer and author from the UK. He is an editor, teacher of writing, mentor, sometimes poet, and children’s author. His stories have been published in many places in the UK and abroad, in print and online. They have been used on High School distance learning courses in the US, performed by actors, printed on flyers, and recorded for radio.
Over the past 10 years, Nik has worked extensively in schools and libraries running workshops and courses for children and adults, working for organisations, including Writing Yorkshire and the BBC. He has spoken on panels at events and given writer talks; guest edited for literary magazines and judged writing competitions for all ages.
For more information about Nik’s work visit: http://nikperring.com/
About DVLP
The Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.
This press release was prepared by Capital B Media, a public relations and media training agency based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. For more information, please visit www.capitalbmedia.co.uk
