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By Jane Prior on December 5, 2014 in

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Avatar TBHAMusic @TBHAMusic·

We are looking to create a team of Year 7 Music Rehearsal Room technicians - please speak to Mrs F or Mr G if you are interested! Plenty of achievement points available!

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Avatar Inkpots @Inkpots1·

In #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek we’re going to share some of the things that have helped us all here get through the past 15 months. First up today - be kind to yourself. Talk to yourself as you would a good friend. When things don’t go well, don’t be harsh on yourself. ❤️

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Avatar The Wildlife Trusts @WildlifeTrusts·

This #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek we’re asking everybody to #ConnectWithNature. Spend just a little time listening to bird song, stopping to smell the flowers, or watching a busy bee! 💚🌸🐝

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Avatar Inkpots @Inkpots1·

Sunday walk. Family time #weddingplanning

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Avatar The Book Nook @booknookhove·

What's coming up this weekend at @brightfest...? Well you've got the crime writing wonders @ellygriffiths, @sharnajackson and @redbreastedbird in conversation AND @sbaileywriter talking all things writing and nature... get your books on our website now https://booknookuk.com/brighton-festival/

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The possibilities for the future the young people

The possibilities for the future the young people who come to Inkpots are endless. And also a bit scary.⁠
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We work with some wonderful young writers, artists, songwriters, video creators, cartoonists and script writers. It will be amazing to see how these talents grow and develop in the coming years.⁠
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But there are also challenges ahead. There are exams to get through as well as relationships to navigate. Anxiety comes a-calling as well as the feelings around not 'fitting in'.⁠
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We'll be here for it all. Not just the wonderful moments when young people have a big creative success . We'll also be around for those moments when it isn't all going to plan.

Love this quote! ❤️ . It’s from a new book,

Love this quote! ❤️
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It’s from a new book, which we received yesterday (thanks so much @farshorebooks) called Moonchild - City of the Sun by @aishabushby
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We’re looking forward to meeting Aisha soon when she is coming to talk about her books with our primary school age members.
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It’s wonderful to connect authors and readers and one of the best bits of running Inkpots (of which there are many!).
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Happy weekend reading too! Let us know if you’ve got any good books on the go too.

For an organisation which was set up to support cr

For an organisation which was set up to support creative writing, we talk about wellbeing an awful lot.⁠
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The thing is that we don't see young people in isolation. They don't shrug off any concerns and worries at the online door. One of the points of ensuring we offer a safe, creative space is so that young people can relax. And when that happens, they feel they can share what's happening to them, good and bad.⁠
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Before Covid, we were seeing very clear signs of increased anxiety. That's why I studied for a certificate in young people's mental health last year. And it's why I continue to study.⁠
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Inkpots activities can help young people understand how their creativity can support them through the difficult times as well as the good days.⁠
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Looking after the whole young person is important to us not just encouraging the telling of wonderful tales. ⁠
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We’re very proud of the Inkpots community so it’s always brilliant to get feedback like this.
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Some of the young people who come to our sessions have been Inkpots members for many years so it’s a privilege to support them and their creativity as they grow up.

We have a new blog on our website today introducin

We have a new blog on our website today introducing a tool we use to check in with creativity levels.⁠
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We all know how it feels when things are going well and our creativity is flowing easily and freely. It's less easy when projects feel sluggish and heavy.⁠
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It's particularly important to help young people understand this too - and what we (and they) can do.⁠
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You can read our piece via this link: https://inkpots.org/the-inkpots-creative-jar-exercise/ or it's also in a clickable link in the bio.

Sharing some of the values which are right at the

Sharing some of the values which are right at the heart of what we do here at Inkpots.
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Kindness is paramount - to others, ourselves and to our own work and that of others.
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We want to ensure that our programmes are accessible to all. This is a work in progress and have some exciting news coming soon!
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Inkpots should also be a safe space for young people and their work. We want parents to feel secure too in the knowledge that their children are cared about and respected within our groups and programmes.
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(Swipe right to read all the images.)

Yesterday, I spent a good hour walking by the beac

Yesterday, I spent a good hour walking by the beach. It was a perfect early Spring morning. Just a few wispy clouds, scudding across an azure blue sky. The tide was just coming in, gentle waves breaking on the shingle. Space to think and breathe in the sea air.
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I love this time of year. Along with early to mid-Autumn, it’s a season when I feel fully connected to nature and my own creativity. My energy levels are high, and my work output and capacity increase too. I feel alive.
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I don’t think it’s a coincidence that these favourite times encompass birthdays - my sons were both born in May and that I have an Autumn birthday. Most of us enjoy celebrations and have fond memories which may make particular times of year special.
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It’s doesn’t always work out (because life – especially pandemics!) but I do try to make the most of these times, harnessing the energy and lightness.
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Do you have favourite seasons? And if you’re a parent, have you ever noticed your children particularly enjoying certain periods too. Let me know – I’d really love to hear

We return to our after school clubs next and can’t wait to see everyone!
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We have two groups which meet on Thursday afternoons - one for year 6s and the other for year 5 children.
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Each week during term time we meet to work on various writing activities - we’re particularly looking at story setting this half term.
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We are also looking forward to welcoming some lovely visitors too - including @venkman_project and @aishabushby 🥳
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We keep the numbers in our groups fairly small so that no-one feels too overwhelmed and everyone gets a chance to have their say.
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But we do have a few laces left for this coming term. So please do get in touch, if this sounds of interest at all.
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Contact us via the link in our bio or DM. Thank you.

We’ve had a Spring writers’ retreat this after

We’ve had a Spring writers’ retreat this afternoon - even though we had snow earlier.
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These workshops are opportunities for some of our older writers to pause and reflect. We create some space to take a deeper dive into subjects they want to explore more. It’s an opportunity too to do some quiet reflective writing and thinking.
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And pretty much always, the conversation will dive off in an unexpected direction. This time: Marvel films.
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But always such a rewarding time and an absolutely great way to spend an afternoon.

Happy Easter weekend!⁠ .⁠ Hope you have a love

Happy Easter weekend!⁠
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Hope you have a lovely break.⁠
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Looking forward to reading, eating, walking and chatting here (with a bit of decorating if the weather is a bit chilly).⁠
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We have developed a creative manifesto which incor

We have developed a creative manifesto which incorporates some the things which are most important to us. ⁠
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• Everyone has a story to tell and young voices in particular need to be heard.⁠
• Stories can be told in a variety of ways and emerge at their own pace. All writing – at whatever stage – is to be treasured.⁠
• Individuals have their own creative cycles which need to be understood and respected.⁠
• Our community is the beating heart of what we do, and every member (and their work) is valued and respected.⁠
• The whole creative process helps develop resilience and supports a young person’s overall development.⁠
• We encourage aspiration and inspiration – helping young people aim high and believe in themselves and their abilities. ⁠
• Writing should be open to all young people and we aim to make Inkpots inclusive for everyone.⁠
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Photo taken at the Saatchi Gallery Tutankhamun exhibition 2019. ⁠

In the past few weeks, I've been looking at Inkpot

In the past few weeks, I've been looking at Inkpots' values and vision to ensure that we still relevant for young people and their families as we all start to emerge from lockdown.⁠
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There are three pillars of action which support our vision. The third is about space - and understanding the space needed to be creative.⁠
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This means curating our online space to make it as comfortable for young people as possible.⁠
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We also work with young people to help them understand the mental space needed, to manage their own schedules, and the physical space they may need.⁠
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In addition, we also help them understand their own creative cycles and that these will not always flow consistently.⁠
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(Our first pillar of action highlights the importance of reading widely, and the second pillar is concerned with getting young people's voices heard.)⁠

This week, we're talking about Inkpots values and

This week, we're talking about Inkpots values and our three pillars of action.⁠
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The second pillar supports getting all voices heard. ⁠
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Now - more than ever - we need to help get young people's voices heard. Too often, us adults talk about what is good for young people, without actually hearing from them about what it is that they want or, indeed, need.⁠
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We aim to change that. We collaborate with other writing organisations, and share platforms where young people's work can be seen. ⁠
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We support the young people who come to Inkpots to get their stories, poems, cartoons, comics and videos ready for submission. We help them to understand the editorial process and to value positive feedback.⁠
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In the summer, we'll be having our own showcase event too so that everyone gets a chance to see the amazing work they produce.

So much good advice here! We particularly like the

So much good advice here! We particularly like the suggestions for reading good books and having good sentences in your ears.⁠
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To be a writer you need to be a reader. This is one of three pillars that underpins our work at Inkpots.⁠
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We encourage and facilitate reading a wide range of books - and are always on the look out for new authors and new books. We love having book chats.⁠
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We also introduce our members to authors and creative practitioners via visits to our workshops. These offer young people the chance to ask the questions they want answers to. It's also a chance for them to hear about the creative process in action. ⁠
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We've been incredibly lucky - and honoured - to have been joined by the most amazing visitors in the past 12 months. And have some wonderful guests lined up for the rest of 2021 too.

Inkpots was started just over eight years ago. Big

Inkpots was started just over eight years ago. Big changes were made in 2019, and we were just implementing these when Covid hit. In the past 12 months, everything has been geared towards supporting our young people and getting used to being online.
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Sometimes though, it pays to pause and just think about what you’re really doing. In the darker days of January, I went right back to basics and have been digging down into what really makes Inkpots tick.
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Our vision, for example - or some would say, our ‘why’.
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After many scribbles, stick-it notes and check-ins with our supportive people, this encapsulates what we aim for:
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“To equip as many young people as possible with belief in themselves and their creativity, and offer them the tools to use this in their every day lives.”
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We do this via:
- a community where kindness is paramount.
- programmes where every young person gets an equal chance.
- a safe space for young people and their work.

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