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By Gill Pawley on April 15, 2019 in

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Gill Pawley 👋 Inkpots - supporting creativity and well-being for young people 📝Friendly groups 🚀Bespoke mentoring. Email: gill@inkpots.org she/her

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Sally Nugent @sallynugent ·

26 Nov

Rest easy big man ❤️

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Inkpots @inkpots1 ·

25 Nov

Well. This will do nicely for a Friday afternoon.

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Nicola Penfold @nicolapenfold ·

25 Nov

@snugbookshop I would love to! Am desperate to make most of winter season and see Beyond the Frozen Horizon on people's Christmas lists! It's an eco adventure for 9+ set in the Arctic, about the power of a wilderness, and whales!

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𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚜𝙳 @carveresque ·

24 Nov

My class were so sad to finish our class novel - Where the World Turns Wild @nicolapenfold but are still pinching ourselves over the excitement of a zoom call with her this morning. Nicola is so inspiring and spoke to the children with real passion. She is a very special person!

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Inkpots @inkpots1 ·

24 Nov

A heartfelt comment from a Year 7 at our lunchtime group @TBHAcademy today: ‘I just love that Inkpots exists’😍😍😍

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In a world full of noise and confusion, small pock

In a world full of noise and confusion, small pockets of quiet can be so helpful for young people. A chance to re-calibrate and balance helps to re-set frayed minds and calms nerves.

Some of our Year 11s are doing mock GCSEs at the moment and popping into our room at school or having a quick chat has helped this week.

I hope that whatever the weekend brings you, there’ll be a few pockets of quiet to help you too.

#creativementor #youthmentor #creativecheerleader #teenagesupport #writingsupport #teenmentalhealth #teenwellbeing #introvertlife #positivewellbeing #womenwhodo #mumofteens #creativemums #mentalhealthforteens #parentingtweens #tweensandteens #tweensread #tweenslibrary #creativeteens #teenreads #welovebooks #parentingforteensandtweens #creatingboldly #calmandquiet

The word ‘creativity’ is flung around so much

The word ‘creativity’ is flung around so much that I sometimes wonder what people really mean by it.

At Inkpots, it’s the warm glow of knowing that something is flowing from you and helping connect with others.

During the teen years, creativity can be an elusive little imp which seems to disappear altogether, only to pop up again when it’s most unexpected.

Sometimes, it returns in a completely different guise. Poetry, for example, will suddenly become a thing with young people who have previously showed no interest at all.

If we learned nothing else from the lockdowns, we all found out how important creativity is for all mental health.

Creativity is always with us. It just might need us to be patient and it might need gentle encouragement. But we should never doubt it’s there.

#creativementor #youthmentor #creativecheerleader #teenagesupport #writingsupport #teenmentalhealth #teenwellbeing #introvertlife #positivewellbeing #womenwhodo #mumofteens #creativemums #mentalhealthforteens #parentingtweens #tweensandteens #tweensread #tweenslibrary #creativeteens #teenreads #welovebooks #parentingforteensandtweens #creatingboldly #calmandquiet

Yesterday, some girls in year 11 (final year of se

Yesterday, some girls in year 11 (final year of secondary school if you’re out of the loop with English schools, 15/16 years) caught up with me. They had been such enthusiastic members of Inkpots when they were at primary school. Then they moved to secondary school and there were the lockdowns so we’d lost touch.

But they’re back!

It was so brilliant to catch up with their news and see how far they’ve come. But GCSEs are looming; mocks start next week. Inkpots will once again be able to provide them with a safe space to step out of their worries and use their creativity to its full.

Our small but mighty community feels more important than ever right now. Young people thrive here. The support they give each other is always impressive and providing small pockets of calm helps ease things considerably.

#creativementor #youthmentor #creativecheerleader #teenagesupport #writingsupport #teenmentalhealth #teenwellbeing #introvertlife #positivewellbeing #womenwhodo #mumofteens #creativemums #mentalhealthforteens #parentingtweens #tweensandteens #tweensread #tweenslibrary #creativeteens #teenreads #welovebooks #parentingforteensandtweens #creatingboldly #calmandquiet

Journaling is such a lovely way of recording thoug

Journaling is such a lovely way of recording thoughts, hopes, dreams and all those big plans.

We have taken inspiration from Pinterest with these beautiful journals and there’s many more where these came from.

Every journal is personal though and you don’t have to be an amazing artist to keep one. Start small and keep it simple. But as the evenings draw in, let your creativity flow.

#creativementor #youthmentor #creativecheerleader #teenagesupport #writingsupport #teenmentalhealth #teenwellbeing #introvertlife #positivewellbeing #womenwhodo #mumofteens #creativemums #mentalhealthforteens #parentingtweens #tweensandteens #tweensread #tweenslibrary #creativeteens #teenreads #welovebooks #parentingforteensandtweens #creatingboldly #calmandquiet

We don’t talk about self care much at Inkpots.

We don’t talk about self care much at Inkpots.

We talk about nourishing ourselves instead.

The idea is roughly the same but ‘self care’ has become very commercialised and its power diminished to a face pack and a candle in some cases.

Knowing what nourishes us is much more powerful and effective. It’s like finding a really good hand cream which nourishes dry winter skin - rich, deep and long-lasting effects.

It starts with knowing what works for you. And it may be a face pack and a candle! But there’s so much more to discover. Being in nature, spending time with people who really make you laugh, planning ahead, tidying your desk.

What are the things which nourish you? Drop a note below ⬇️or pop me a DM. I’ll add my own list in the comments too.

#creativementor #youthmentor #creativecheerleader #teenagesupport #writingsupport #teenmentalhealth #teenwellbeing #introvertlife #positivewellbeing #womenwhodo #mumofteens #creativemums #mentalhealthforteens #parentingtweens #tweensandteens #tweensread #tweenslibrary #creativeteens #teenreads #welovebooks #parentingforteensandtweens #creatingboldly #calmandquiet

Happy #halfterm to everyone who is off next week.

Happy #halfterm to everyone who is off next week.

Hope you have lots of autumnal fun!

#creativementor #youthmentor #creativecheerleader #teenagesupport #writingsupport #teenmentalhealth #teenwellbeing #introvertlife #positivewellbeing #womenwhodo #mumofteens #creativemums #mentalhealthforteens #parentingtweens #tweensandteens #tweensread #tweenslibrary #creativeteens #teenreads #welovebooks #parentingforteensandtweens #creatingboldly #calmandquiet

Morning #teamautumn. Here’s wishing you a good w

Morning #teamautumn. Here’s wishing you a good weekend. I know for lots of people in the UK this will be a weekend of having to take some deep breaths. We’re on a financial roller coaster to say the least.

I’m doing my Quarter 4 planning which is looking so different than two weeks ago. But for Inkpots, young people will always be at the centre of any plans.

Making the most of the best of autumn too - some long walks, evening sunsets, some time in the woods.

Wishing you some Autumn sunshine too. 🍁🍂

📸 Allison Christine

#teenmentalhealth #teenwellbeing #introvertlife #positivewellbeing #womenwhodo #mumofteens #creativemums #mentalhealthforteens #parentingtweens #tweensandteens #tweensread #tweenslibrary #creativeteens #teenreads #welovebooks #parentingforteensandtweens #creatingboldly #creativementor #calmandquiet #teamautumn

I love Autumn - and now it’s the Autumn Equinox,

I love Autumn - and now it’s the Autumn Equinox, we’re fully into #teamautumn territory.

I woke last Saturday with a sense of renewed energy and have loved the slightly Misty mornings this week. Nature is at her finest just now too.

I also love the concept of harvesting creative ideas in this season too; nurturing projects and thoughts to see us through the darker months.

Let me know if you are #teamautumn too! Drop a 🍁🍂in the comments below. Or if not, which is your favourite time of year?

#creativementor #youthmentor #creativecheerleader #teenagesupport #writingsupport #teenmentalhealth #teenwellbeing #introvertlife #positivewellbeing #womenwhodo #mumofteens #creativemums #mentalhealthforteens #parentingtweens #tweensandteens #tweensread #tweenslibrary #creativeteens #teenreads #welovebooks #parentingforteensandtweens #creatingboldly #calmandquiet #teamautumn

When things feel unsettled, uncertain and a bit wo

When things feel unsettled, uncertain and a bit wobbly, we all need places to go, people to talk to and things to do which restore balance.

A lot of young people I’ve spoken to already this week feel a bit ‘off’. They’re not sure quite why and can’t really explain how they feel.

Obviously as we’re in the UK, there’s a lot that’s happened in the last couple of weeks. So we’ve been talking about ways for them to feel better.

Getting creative, playing sport, eating favourite food and being with friends all score highly. As do watching favourite films or getting outside.

It’s also important to have space to talk about these feelings of being unsettled too. Even when we’re not sure how we really feel.

#creativementor #youthmentor #creativecheerleader #teenagesupport #writingsupport #teenmentalhealth #teenwellbeing #introvertlife #positivewellbeing #womenwhodo #mumofteens #creativemums #mentalhealthforteens #parentingtweens #tweensandteens #tweensread #tweenslibrary #creativeteens #teenreads #welovebooks #parentingforteensandtweens #creatingboldly #calmandquiet

On the day of the Queen’s funeral, remembering t

On the day of the Queen’s funeral, remembering that she came to the throne at a time when she was a solitary woman in such a position of power. She had to find her own way and her own style.

And, she could strip down an engine of a truck.

It’ll be a quiet, contemplative day at Inkpots but DMs are open.

#calmandquiet #hmthequeen #queensfuneral #community #creativecommunity_ #rememberingthequeen

On Sunday, I got to spend some time with my elder

On Sunday, I got to spend some time with my elder son in London. It was a glorious late summer’s afternoon and we played at being tourists wandering around some of the sights. When we parted, he was off to prepare for a lecture he was giving the following morning; as an academic at a Dutch university, it was his task to welcome the first years in his faculty at the start of their university journey. (Dutch universities return earlier than those here in England BTW.)

It got me thinking about when I left him and his brother at their respective universities at the very start of their first terms. All the promise and excitement with the bitter sweetness of separation. There’ll be many people preparing for that very moment this week.

On the train home, I sent good luck messages for the start of term too - to the wonderful Inkpots students and their families. A new term always brings a mix of excitement and nervousness combined.

Most of all there’s hope.

Hope that it’s a good start to the term. Hope that it’s a term full of fun and excitement for the young people, their families and their teachers. Hope that it’s a term of calm.

There’s no getting away from the issues of the moment - the energy crisis, inflation, war in Europe, global warning.

But a new school year brings a sense of a clean sheet. And with that comes the hope that things can change. For the sake of our young people, we have to hope for a brighter future too.

creativementor #youthmentor #creativecheerleader #teenagesupport #writingsupport #teenmentalhealth #teenwellbeing #introvertlife #positivewellbeing #womenwhodo #mumofteens #creativemums #mentalhealthforteens #parentingtweens #tweensandteens #tweensread #tweenslibrary #creativeteens #teenreads #welovebooks #parentingforteensandtweens #creatingboldly #calmandquiet

Congratulations to @nicolapenfoldauthor on the pub

Congratulations to @nicolapenfoldauthor on the publication today of ‘Beyond the Frozen Horizon’. I am a huge fan of Nicola’s writing and was absolutely thrilled to be asked to contribute a review quote for her new book.

Set in the near future - like Nicola’s previous books - ‘Beyond the Frozen Horizon’ is set in a world where climate change has been taken seriously. Nature is flourishing and the world has changed for humans too - air travel is only allowed for specific reasons for example. Rory’s mum is an ecologist and working on a demanding new project. It takes them both on a trip to the Arctic where Rory discovers that not all is at it seems. She has layers of challenges to face including some about herself.

I described the book as ‘an eco-adventure, ghost story and love letter for a better world’. ‘Beyond the Frozen Horizon’ is beautifully written, very atmospheric and in Rory, we have a fine new hero to get behind.

Happy book birthday Nicola!

#creativementor #youthmentor #creativecheerleader #teenagesupport #writingsupport #teenmentalhealth #teenwellbeing #introvertlife #positivewellbeing #womenwhodo #mumofteens #creativemums #mentalhealthforteens #parentingtweens #tweensandteens #tweensread #tweenslibrary #creativeteens #teenreads #welovebooks #parentingforteensandtweens #creatingboldly #calmandquiet

Absolutely thrilled to be able to share the cover

Absolutely thrilled to be able to share the cover of @brianna_bourne_writes new book ‘The Half Life of Love’.

Flint knows that his life is limited. When he was 8, he was half-lifed which meant that he was told exactly how long he had to live. He’s lived his life accordingly - limiting friends and experiences to a minimum.

Then he meets September.

September is STEM-loving girl, luminous, vivacious and fun.

What will happen next?

We absolutely loved Brianna’s first book and can’t wait to find out more with this new one. Out in March 2023 from @scholastic_uk

#creativementor #youthmentor #creativecheerleader #teenagesupport #writingsupport #teenmentalhealth #teenwellbeing #introvertlife #positivewellbeing #womenwhodo #mumofteens #creativemums #mentalhealthforteens #parentingtweens #tweensandteens #tweensread #tweenslibrary #creativeteens #teenreads #welovebooks #parentingforteensandtweens #creatingboldly #calmandquiet

I may have been running Inkpots for almost ten yea

I may have been running Inkpots for almost ten years and have been editing and mentoring for many more. But there are lots of things still to be learned.

But. There are some things I do know about what young people and their families want.

1. For young people to be seen as individuals.

2. For them to have time and space to express themselves.

3. For young people to thrive.

4. To have a space where they feel safe and secure.

5. To work with someone who really cares.

#creativementor #youthmentor #creativecheerleader #teenagesupport #writingsupport #teenmentalhealth #teenwellbeing #introvertlife #positivewellbeing #womenwhodo #mumofteens #creativemums #mentalhealthforteens #parentingtweens #tweensandteens #tweensread #tweenslibrary #creativeteens #teenreads #welovebooks #parentingforteensandtweens #creatingboldly #calmandquiet #weneedhope🌱

If you are the parent of a Year 6 young person mov

If you are the parent of a Year 6 young person moving to secondary school in September, we have a free leaflet for you and your family.

Click through the link in our bio for more info or you could copy and paste this link: http://eepurl.com/ggrkBr

You could also DM and I’ll send you a clickable link 👍

📸: John Schnobrich

#creativementor #youthmentor #creativecheerleader #teenagesupport #writingsupport #teenmentalhealth #teenwellbeing #introvertlife #positivewellbeing #womenwhodo #mumofteens #creativemums #mentalhealthforteens #parentingtweens #tweensandteens #tweensread #tweenslibrary #creativeteens #teenreads #welovebooks #parentingforteensandtweens #creatingboldly #calmandquiet

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