Young Writers’ City
Young Writers’ City is all about giving young people the chance to express their ideas, thoughts and opinions through creative writing.
We’re taking over classrooms
We’ve been working in Excelsior Academy in Newcastle (since April 2015); Kingsmeadow Community School in Gateshead (since February 2019); Callerton Academy in Newcastle and Belmont Community School in Durham (since September 2021). We’ve also previously partnered with Grace College in Gateshead and Academy 360 in Sunderland.
Each week we bring in amazing writers, including songwriters, rappers, film-writers, poets, and theatre makers, who take over English, Music or Drama lessons with creative writing projects.
More than 500 young people per year take part in this award-winning project.
Open to all
Our programme producers Bridget Hamilton, Emily Wiseman and Becci Sharrock plus a team of writers are in school one to three days per week, throughout the year, working with every Year 7, Year 8 or Year 9 student dependent on their school.
We run lunchtime and after-school groups all year round, so everyone in school can come along to write and be creative with us. If you find an interest in anything we do, we can support you to find other creative activities outside of school, too.
A creative engine
The participants of our Young Writers’ City programme are amazing. Together we’ve made films and music videos; recorded songs; published pamphlets and zines; and performed live, including at Summer Streets, Sage Gateshead and St James’s Park.
Read, watch and listen to some of our recent content.
I got inspired to write more because somebody actually valued my uniqueness. I felt I had to hide less behind boundaries and I could express myself and be more true in my writing. Sometimes teachers say, ‘you can’t do that, you can’t write that, it’s not appropriate’. You value our opinions. You know… I think now I think of myself as a writer
Young Writers’ City participant
We’re here for the long-term.
One of the best things about Young Writers’ City is that if you find you have an interest in the arts, we can work with you to try out new things and to develop your creativity through lunchtime clubs, mentoring, and additional support. Come and have a chat with us!
Where next?
If you enjoy Young Writers’ City, it’s time to get involved with the rest of our Young Writers programme, which happens outside of school. We run weekly writing groups, summer schools and loads more. It’s all free to take part in and it’s all designed for young people like you.
Now I know where to go to help me develop my writing. When you have talents but you don’t know what to do with them it can be frustrating. I think Young Writers is a good example of how people can come and show themselves, not just other people, but prove to themselves that they have a talent.
Young Writers’ City participant
Videos
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Squares of Light
Written by Students from Excelsior Academy as part of Young Writers’ City, a programme delivered by New Writing North.
Performed by Mulhat Mbarouk and the cast of Stitched.
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Tell Me a Story
Written by Students from Excelsior Academy as part of Young Writers’ City, a programme delivered by New Writing North.
Performed by the cast of Stitched.
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Welcome to the Westend
Written by Students from Excelsior Academy as part of Young Writers’ City, a programme delivered by New Writing North.
Performed by the cast of Stitched.
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Stop the Global Warming
Stop the Global Warming was created as part of New Writing North’s Young Writers’ City programme, written by students at Hadrian School, Excelsior Academy with Anna Ryder.
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Courage
Courage was written and performed by participants of New Writing North’s Young Writers’ City project at Academy 360, Sunderland.
Participants worked with musician Jennie Brewis and animator Sheryl Jenkins to create this short film.
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Colour Blind
Produced by our Young Writers’ City programme.
Written and performed by 16-year olds from the West End of Newcastle.
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Danger Night
Danger Night is written and performed by students from Collingwood School, Excelsior Academy with Kema Kay as part of New Writing North’s Young Writers’ City project.
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I Am The City
Written and performed by students from Hadrian School, Excelsior Academy working with Ruth Johnson, Emily Wiseman and Adam Opie.
