Groups for 2020-2021
We are closed to new bookings for the final two sessions of each group. This will either be from May or June depending on when the sessions take place.
However, if you’re interested in trying out a group with a view to booking for next year, we have set aside two groups to run with taster sessions in May, June and July.
| Book for junior age group. | Book for teen age group. |
Groups for 2021-2022
Groups are not yet on sale for September 2021. To make sure you don’t miss out, please sign up to our mailing list.
Spark Young Writers groups meet monthly from September to June/July (10 sessions a year), for 2 hours on a Saturday.
In 2020 – 2021 the cost is £90 for the year (£9 a session) and you can pay by annual card payment, BACS transfer, or monthly Direct Debit.
Groups are divided roughly into school years 3-6 (junior aged children), and school years 7-12 (secondary school aged children.)
Please contact the office if you would like to discuss other options for payment – we have a number of bursaries available for those in financial need. Please email Emma Boniwell if you would like more information.
Spark Young Writers groups are writing groups for children and young people interested in any kind of creative writing.
Each group is:
- fun! We laugh a lot during the sessions
- friendly and informal
- small – max. 15 children
- led by a professional writer along with an assistant
- varied – your child will do all kinds of writing, from fiction to poetry to playwriting
- working on creative writing rather than spelling or punctuation
- a chance for your child to develop their creative writing
- a way to grow their confidence in their writing
- not assessed – your child will get feedback and suggestions, but no “grades” or “attainment levels” are given
To keep up to date with everything that is going on, including reminders about submission deadlines for our termly online magazine, you can sign up for the Young People and Schools mailing list.
For exact times and dates of each group, please see below.
If you have any questions about Spark Young Writers, please have a look at our Young Writers FAQs page.
There are occasional opportunities for group members to share their work at events for family members and friends as well as more public events. In previous years, members of the groups have shared their work at the Birmingham Literature Festival, Ledbury Poetry Festival, Coventry Mysteries and Wenlock Poetry Festival. Several have also been involved in publications and regularly submit to Spark Young Writers Magazine.
Birmingham
Birmingham City 1 (ThinkTank Museum) School years 3 – 6.
Birmingham City 2 (Library of Birmingham) School years 7 – 12.
Birmingham City 3 (ThinkTank Museum) School years 5 – 8.
Bartley Green (Newman University) School years 3 – 6.
Edgbaston (University of Birmingham campus) School years 7 -12.
Black Country
Wolverhampton (Wolverhampton Art Gallery) School years 7-12.
Worcestershire
Worcester (The Hive) School years 5 – 9.
Kidderminster (Kidderminster Library) School years 7 – 12.
Herefordshire
Ledbury (Ledbury Library) School years 5 – 9.
Warwickshire
Coventry (The Belgrade Theatre) School years 3 – 6.
Leamington (Leamington Library) School years 7 – 12.
Tamworth (Tamworth Library) School years 6 – 9.
Rugby (Rugby Library) School years 5 – 9.
Stratford (The Other Place) School years 7-13.
Stoke & Staffordshire
Stoke on Trent (Emma Bridgewater Factory) School years 6 – 9.
Shropshire
Telford (Oakengates Theatre) School years 3 – 7.
Shrewsbury (Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery) School years 5 – 9.
Online only
These groups will remain online and are intended for those who would otherwise struggle to attend in person.
Junior Online group School years 3 – 7.
Teens Online group School years 7 –13.
School years and ages
Year 3 (age 7-8), Year 4 (age 8-9), Year 5 (age 9-10), Year 6 (age 10-11) – Key Stage 2
Year 7 (age 11-12), Year 8 (age 12-13), Year 9 (age 13-14) – Key Stage 3
Year 10 (age 14-15), Year 11 (age 15-16) – Key Stage 4
If you have any further questions about the Spark Young Writers’ Groups please have a look at our Young Writers FAQs page. If you have a question that isn’t on this list, please email emma[at]writingwestmidlands.org. If you would prefer to discuss the groups, you can call Emma on 0121 246 2770 (option 2).
Young Writers’ group Supporters
For more information about the supporters on sponsors of our Spark Young Writers’ Groups please click here.