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By Jane Prior on December 5, 2014 in

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Avatar Inkpots @Inkpots1·

#EarthDay2021 #RestoreOurEarth

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Avatar Sarah Philp @sarahphilpcoach·

Thanks for the recommendation @GTCSPauline
“For the most part, across the world, education renewal is going on in spite of system conditions...we need a new narrative about education’s purpose that is authentic, based on evidence & in tune with our deepest values”

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Avatar Cat Weldon 🐉 How to be a Hero 🧙‍♂️@WeldonCat·

Three months ago today, How to be a Hero was published by @MacmillanKidsUK. Thankyou to everyone who has shown it such love and support.

In another three months, the sequel: Land of Lost Things (also illustrated by the lovely @KatieKearArt) will burst onto your bookshelves!

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Avatar Inkpots @Inkpots1·

The values which are so important to us here at Inkpots - kindness, accessible programmes (more news to come on this soon), and a safe space for young people and their writing. #creativewriting #community #youngpeople

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Avatar Inkpots @Inkpots1·

Lovely day chatting to new families interested in Inkpots and then reunited with our brilliant Tuesday group members. Always a delight!

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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.

I saw the sea last week for the first time in mont

I saw the sea last week for the first time in months. It was a particularly windy, dull day but still, the energy and colour of the waves were captivating.⁠
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Hopefully, it won't be long before we're able to visit all the places which move and inspire us. Writing (either as readers or creators) helps us all connect with our surroundings, harnessing the seasons to steer us too.⁠
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Do you know yet where you will be going on your first proper day out? Will you be heading for the sea, the hills or a city maybe? I'd like to do all three! ⁠
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Whatever you're doing this weekend, hope it's a good one too!
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📸Nick Fewings

One of the things we love to do here at Inkpots is

One of the things we love to do here at Inkpots is to help young people craft their stories. This involves observing small details, adding layers of description, developing small quirks in characters, fine tuning plot lines.⁠
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We al learn through using all of our senses, and being aware of the seasons. These are two areas which we use a lot in our workshops, including our weekly term time ones for children age 10 and 11 years.⁠
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We have a few places available (maybe starting next term?) and if this sounds like something your child would be interested in, I would love to send you more details. Please DM me, or book in for a quick chat via the link in the bio.⁠
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All Inkpots groups are built on kindness, and are safe spaces for young people and their work.
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📸: Nick Fewings

As young people start to return to school here in

As young people start to return to school here in England, let's hope that their dreams are still in one piece, and that they are filled with beauty. ⁠
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The best of luck to everyone affected by this - we know that some of our members are returning later in the week because of staggered starts. But I do hope that it all goes as smoothly as possible.⁠
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And a big shout out to all the parents who have been trying to home school/work/keep everything going over the last few months. ⁠
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Yesterday Jess Bradley @venkman_project together w

Yesterday Jess Bradley @venkman_project together with Mike Barfield win the Blue Peter award for best book with facts. Jess also agreed to visit our Thursday group to talk about her work in April.
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I have long been a big fan of Jess’s - I really love her work and she is a brilliant supporter of young people who want to make their own comics and draw out stories.
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One of the aims of Inkpots workshops is to help young people tell their stories in ways which are good for them. Not everyone wants to write long adventure stories for example, and we try to find the right outlets for all the wonderful ideas young people have.
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So roll on April - and congratulations again Jess and Mike!

Slowly - very slowly - starting to think about pla

Slowly - very slowly - starting to think about places I’d like to go as the lockdown here in England starts to ease. Initially, it would be nice to leave the town - and just be able to visit a good coffee shop. A walk by the sea maybe. Lunch with friends. All the things we took for granted.
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And then there are the bigger plans which almost seem too much to take in just now.
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How about you? What are you looking forward to most?
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📸 : @archiseye of @boekhandel_dominicanen one of the most beautiful bookshops I have visited. On the list of places to visit further afield. Maastricht, The Netherlands.

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