News: BYW at Barnsley Civic

Lots of great things have been happening via Barnsley Young Writers recently so we wanted to blow a trumpet for them!

In March, current and former Barnsley Young Writers members Becca Green, Ben Whiston, Brooke Lees, Chloe Pearson, Elliot Blades, Kes, Izzy Whiston and Sofie Stothers, had their work selected to be published in the Teenage Wildlife magazine. Teenage Wildlife, managed by Barnsley Civic and funded by Historic England, is a project exploring 70 years of youth culture and teenage experience in the Eldon Street area of Barnsley. In May, Barnsley Young Writers will publish their first chapbook as part of the project.

In February BYW Sofie Stothers and Elliot Blades had their poems The Journey and My Mother’s Daughter selected to be included in an LGBTQ+ History Month exhibition, exploring Barnsley LGBTQ+ youth culture.

BYW member Charlotte Pearce has her poem Delicate published in Barnsley Civic’s Spring season guide. Delicate was inspired by circus theatre company Extraordinary Bodies who create unique and magical spaces where diverse bodies are embraced, boundaries are broken, and inclusivity is championed.

Barnsley Civic and Hive South Yorkshire are proud to announce that Creative Minds are supporting Barnsley Young Writers with funding into autumn. Their support, plus the continued support of Barnsley Civic means that the group will continue to thrive throughout 2023. Creative Minds is a charity hosted by Southwest Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which integrates creativity and the arts into mainstream health and wellbeing practice.

Jason White, Barnsley Civic’s Community Engagement Coordinator says, “Since relaunching Barnsley Young Writers in February 2022 at the Civic, the group has achieved great things. In the summer, they enjoyed a trip to the Hive Open Mic & book launch event at Sheffield Leadmill, and many performed. Since then a number of individual members have had their work selected to be displayed or published online and in print. I’m proud of Barnsley Civic’s continued work with Hive South Yorkshire and feel that Barnsley Young Writers really sets a precedent in Barnsley for how to engage with young people and create opportunities that are especially meaningful to young people articulating and share their lived experience. I’m especially proud the group has become a safe space for LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent young people.”