The Young Writers Collective is the umbrella under which projects, workshops and events for young people sit and provides a space for them to connect with other writers. The aim of the collective is to foster collaboration and community among young creatives and support them in continuing to pursue their passion for writing. We orientate work around themes and issues that resonate with young people including the environment, identity, migration, heritage, mental health and wellbeing, inviting them to develop stories and unpick perspectives through a variety of written forms.
Through the Tunnels of Moulsecoomb
In spring 2020, we worked with 15 young people from Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) and BBC History, celebrating the 65th anniversary of the broadcast of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood. Adopting Dylan’s methodology of using landmarks and local characters to inspire the fictional backstory of their neighbourhood, our writers produced works featured in Through the Tunnels of Moulsecoomb, an anthology of poetry compiled by BBC History into a film of their readings which forms part of the BBC Archive. Watch Through the Tunnels of Moulsecoomb here.
AMPLIFIED
AMPLIFIED is a spoken word and storytelling event that has featured as part of Brighton Festival for the last two years. Over the course of 3 intensive workshops, young people work with professional writers including members of Little Green Pig’s board of trustees and volunteer mentors to craft their stories and hone public speaking skills to share with a live audience at Brighton Festival. AMPLIFIED aims to give a platform to young people who want to raise awareness about the issues affecting them, shape the narrative of their generation or champion change in society.
A short film following the creative journey of four young people as they script and hone public speaking skills to tell their stories as part of Brighton Festival 2021’s Amplified can be viewed here or you can watch (and we’d highly recommend you do!) the full performance here.
Hidden Histories
Writer, poet and spoken word artist Akila Richards is working with illustrator and visual artist Jade Hylton and 13 pupils from diverse backgrounds attending Patcham High to explore their personal histories and themes of migration, heritage and identity. Over six weekly workshops they will create work to be included in a final exhibition within the school and open to the local community.
Youth Board
The Youth Board is a recent initiative that we’re developing to inform our mission, values, new ideas and positive change in the organisation. It’s made up of passionate and ambitious young people who have experienced our work and feel invested in shaping our future. Supported by members of our board they meet 5-6 times a year with the aim that they will have the opportunity to graduate to the role of a trustee and truly influence our direction of travel, particularly at such a momentous time of change. We’re really keen to hear from any young people keen to get involved.