My Voice Write or Wrong?

Passionate about words?
Interested in globalissues?
Aged between 13 and 19?

We can help you develop your writing skills.MyVoice has opportunities for nine young people, who’d like to be mentored (for free) by a professional writer and who are interested in writing about the global
issues of our time.

Logon to www.myvoicewriteorwrong.org to find out more and to enter online.

(Deadline: Monday 5 October)
MyVoice is supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government, Creativity, Culture and Educationand The Reading Agency.

MyVoice write or wrong? is a writing and reading bursary scheme for young people. Nine bursaries are available, one in each of these areas: Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets, Leicester, Luton, Birmingham, Manchester and Oldham, Blackburn (Darwen & Pendle), Slough and Bradford.

Do you know someone who would benefit from a MyVoice Bursary? The project aims to create conversations and dialogues across languages, cultural perceptions and narrative disciplines. This dialogue will be important for fostering and encouraging greater understanding and tolerance. The project aims to encourage young people to explore complex global issues through writing. We are interested in helping young people to develop a diverse range of writing skills including: poetry, playwriting, journalistic writing and fiction.

Who are we looking for?
• Young people aged 13-19 interested in exploring themes of faith, diversity, violent extremism or   freedom of expression in written or spoken form
• May have a talent for writing
• Show a passion for words (spoken, read or written)
• Are not necessarily engaged with education or perceive themselves as writers/readers

How will young people benefit from a MyVoice Bursary?
• Mentoring by a professional to develop writing or reading skills
• A writers and readers resource pack to support them through the project
• Receive a £100 book token to choose their own books to own
• Help librarians to select books for their local library
• Be part of a writers’ event
• Get a publisher ‘goody bag’
• Share their writing/reading experiences online at www.groupthing.org

How can you support the MyVoice project?
• Think about the young people who may benefit from a MyVoice bursary
• Talk about the project and give them one of the enclosed postcards
• Be a referee for young people applying for a bursary

The judging panel
The panel will consist of a published writer, a major publishing house and representatives from ‘Creativity, Culture and Education’ and ‘The Reading Agency’.

Key dates
Mon 5 Oct Deadline for applications Wed 7 Oct Judging panel meets to shortlist the applications
Fri 9 Oct Shortlisted applicants’ referees contacted Mon 12 Oct All applicants receive an email informing them of the judging panel’s decision

Half Term Break (Oct) The nine winners will be invited to a ‘Welcome to MyVoice’ session at their local library. They will meet their mentor who will support them throughout the project.

We would like to thank you for your support of the MyVoice write or wrong? project and we look forward to receiving bursary applications from the young people you work with. If you have any questions about the MyVoice project please contact: myvoice@groupthing.org

For more information please contact:
Rehana Mughal Ruth Harrison
Creativity, Culture and Education The Reading Agency
www.creativitycultureeducation.org www.readingagency.org.uk

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