Methodist charity, BBC team up to nurture children's writing talents

A new partnership between Methodist children's charity NCH and the BBC is to give some of the country's most vulnerable children the opportunity to become the creative stars of the future.

NCH is working with BBC Writersroom, placing leading writers in NCH projects across the country. Writers in Residence will work with some of the UK's most disadvantaged children including young runaways, teenagers with disabilities and children facing challenges from isolation to poverty, to unlock and nurture their creative talents in a hunt for the next generation of top scriptwriters.

The rollout of writers in residence begins with two writers in London, one in Cardiff and two in Liverpool coinciding with the city's year as Capital of Culture.

A host of top writers, whose works include some of the country's most popular dramas like Skins, Coronation Street, Eastenders and The Street, will introduce young people to the media industry in all its forms.

Lasting for up to six months, creative workshops will see these professionals harness the talents of their would-be successors. Drawing on the experience and inspiration of writers, youngsters will delve into their creative depths and find new forms of expression, creating written pieces that range from short movies, animation, and online soaps.

Launching the partnership at The Writers' Guild of Great Britain last week, NCH's Chief Executive Clare Tickell said: "This partnership is so exciting and unique, offering our young people chances that never come their way. Our Growing Strong campaign has shown that building self-esteem, confidence and resilience is vital for young people, particularly for the most excluded.

"This scheme will help achieve this. The doors are now open to develop their skills through creativity and writing to cope with many of the challenges they will face in the future."

Jake, aged 14, who is attending the first pilot workshop at NCH's Knowsley Family Intervention Project in Liverpool said, "When I was told about the workshops I thought they might be boring, but they have actually been really fun. Last week animators came to the session and I was really impressed by their sketches. I enjoyed working from their sketches to make character models from plasticine, and am looking forward to the next workshop."

The first to take residence at NCH projects in London and Liverpool are Peter Mills, who writes on ITV's Coronation Street and BBC1's Casualty and Holby City; Ben Schiffer, lead writer on Channel 4's Skins and BBC1's Spooks; Roy Boulter, writer for The Street on BBC1 and Brookside on Channel 4 and Lucia Haynes, writer on BBC1's Doctors.
Kate Rowland, BBC Creative Director of New Writing, who set up BBC Writersroom explains: "Our aim at BBC Writersroom is to find the writing stars of tomorrow and nurture the best young talent out there.

"We want to hear different and untold perspectives on the reality of modern Britain -and young people from NCH projects can provide just that.

"But this collaboration with NCH also provides a chance for professional writers to use their talents in a different and extremely rewarding way.

They will be opening young people's eyes to talents they never knew they had, and offering them an insight into the opportunities available within the creative industries."

Armando Iannucci, writer of "The Thick of It" commented: "I can't imagine a day without writing and think that all young people should be given the opportunity to express themselves creatively.

"It's great that the BBC Writersroom is bringing together successful TV writers to help give NCH's young people the tools to develop their skills."