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By Gill Pawley on October 18, 2016 in

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Gill Pawley 👋 Supporting young people on reading and writing journeys - and with well-being too📝workshops 🚀Bespoke mentoring. Email: gill@inkpots.org she/her

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Avatar Lizi Sparasci @mssparasci ·

4 Oct

@Inkpots1 @TBHAcademy They are our biggest selling point! Who wouldn’t want to join such a wonderful bunch? 🤩

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Avatar Inkpots @inkpots1 ·

4 Oct

Listened to @KitdeWaal on @VivGroskop ‘s How to Own the Room podcast today. Great episode - very thoughtful and v inspiring

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Avatar Inkpots @inkpots1 ·

4 Oct

The student helpers at @TBHAcademy open evening tonight were brilliant. The Academy and our creative space were buzzing ✨⭐️🌟

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Avatar Inkpots @inkpots1 ·

4 Oct

Our creative space at @TBHAcademy all ready to welcome Year 6s #openevening

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Avatar Inkpots @inkpots1 ·

3 Oct

Happy Monday! Busy week here in Inkpots land. Even busier next week so today is about plotting, planning and paying attention to small details.

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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

This is the final clip in our mini-series about mo

This is the final clip in our mini-series about moving to secondary school in September. (We’ll also be sharing some more resources in a few weeks.)

As well as all the new stuff, it’s important to remember how much children in Year 6 have already achieved and how much they have prepared. There are so many possibilities to come - new opportunities to explore.

And to paraphrase Hermoine Granger, when in doubt, there’ll always be the library!

We also have a free handout for families with children moving to secondary school. It includes some ideas which have helped students who have already made the move. Click the link in our bio for more info or DM me and I’ll pop the details over. You can always copy and paste this link too: http://eepurl.com/ggrkBr

Please share this with anyone who might be interested. You can save the reel for later too. Thank you! 🙏

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

This week I’m sharing a few ideas for those youn

This week I’m sharing a few ideas for those young people moving to secondary school in September. Inkpots is for 10 - 16 year olds so we cover the transition period and hear about (and see) what it feels like to make the move from young people themselves.

Change may be challenging - even returning to school and moving to a new year group - and may stir up some anxieties. But some forward planning can help, without overshadowing the summer holidays.

We also have a free handout for families - you can access via the link in our bio. Copy and paste this link too: http://eepurl.com/ggrkBr

You can also drop me and DM and I can send the info too.

Please forward this info to anyone who might be interested. You can save it for later use 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 holidays have well and truly arrived here at I

The holidays have well and truly arrived here at Inkpots. So I’m taking a few weeks’ break from posting on the ‘Gram and will return refreshed and rejuvenated.

This is the first time for years that I have been able to take a really good break so I’m looking forward to some precious family time, travelling around and - of course - plenty of reading and writing. I’ll be pottering around the garden, catching up with friends and fully developing some lovely plans for Inkpots in the coming months.

In August, I’ll be sharing a video series about moving to secondary school. Plus lovely creative ideas for the start of the school year.

Have a lovely rest of July and see you soon x

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

It’s been brilliant to run some early sessions o

It’s been brilliant to run some early sessions of our Thrive and Grow Programme for young people transitioning to secondary school in September. The programme got fabulous feedback - thank you to the parents who took the time to message 🙏

The programme runs over four sessions to fit in with family life. Each session follows an outline but will be geared towards the needs and interests of individual students.

There are a few spaces left for August and more info is on our website via the link in our bio. You can also drop me a DM and I’ll send you info.

This might be just the thing if you would value some gentle support for your child to ensure the best start for them in September.

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

It’s been a very admin heavy couple of weeks. Bu

It’s been a very admin heavy couple of weeks. But everything is in place now for September so that everyone involved in our school mentoring programmes, and our face-to-face and online groups has all the info they need.

It’s really important that we have this stability after all the recent ups and downs. But a gentle weekend was definitely needed and the sea was calling first thing this morning…

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

Today marks the end of an era at Inkpots. I’ve w

Today marks the end of an era at Inkpots. I’ve worked alongside a number of students who are now in Year 11 and are coming to the end of their GCSE exams and moving on from their secondary (senior) schools. Many are now 16 but I have known them since they were 8 or 9.

We’ve been through a lot of different phases (the wizarding one lasted a long time!). I’ve seen their reading tastes change, how they’ve made discoveries about themselves and their bodies and witnessed plans for the future unfolding too.

I am honoured beyond words that Inkpots has been part of their lives. This is a wonderful group of young people who are clever, open, inclusive and caring.

They have handled the challenges of the last few years with good humour, maturity and a big dollop of stoicism too.

I can’t wait to see what the next stage in the journey involves. But first, a long, relaxing summer.

#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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