I started Write Back in January of 2020, one of the earliest cohorts to join the programme. I remember when I was handed my first Write Back notebook that I would later come to decorate and write in almost every day until the covers were bulging and the pages were practically falling out. That book would come to serve as my saving grace during that period. I became enamoured with the written word and its ability to bring people together which I wrote about in several poems over the years. Write Back was my cathartic release in times of uncertainty, especially during the pandemic and Sixth Form years.

This programme was one of the reasons I decided to do English Literature and Creative Writing at University. Now, I am the Deputy Head of my University Newspaper and am aiming to work in Journalism & Publishing in future. Write Back left a lasting impression on me and motivated me to keep expressing stories in various formats. It wasn’t just a place to create stories, it gave me the tools to go out and write my own destiny. I was in a room of people who had the same passions and interests as me. All of us penned and exchanged and shared our poetic pieces which projected our deepest vulnerabilities. As a collective, it reminded us that we weren’t alone and that there were people who felt and shared the same hardships. Write Back illuminated the variety of human experience and, more significantly, ignited a spark within me!

Looking back, I accomplished a great deal throughout my Write Back Journey. Over the years, I read a poem at Westminster Abbey, assisted in the creation, and editing of a section of the Write ON Magazine, was a part of writing 4 books, interviewed published writers and locals, read pieces for radio, created and distributed bookmarks in our local libraries, created a storytelling map, stored our anthologies in historical archives such as the Bishopsgate Institute and the Museum of the Home. We also went on trips to historical landmarks such as The British Library, Toynbee Hall, Valence House and many more. I am so proud to say I was a part of such an enriching experience and achieved so much while I was there.

Write Back truly built my confidence and ignited a passion I might not have otherwise had. In some of my hardest times Write Back made me feel seen! I owe it all to Sam and I am tremendously grateful to have been a part of it for so long!

My experience at Write Back has been nothing short of inspiring. I have always considered it a second home; a place where I can be in any state of mind and still feel like me. I have been able to grow and blossom with encouragement and support since I first joined during my early GCSEs, up until now, four years later, having now finished sixth form. Not only have I been able to grow independently but also alongside my many peers, some of which I am proud to be able to call my best friends. Having grown, learnt, loved and prospered, there is nothing I would change about my experience as a member of this group.

Whilst Write Back has allowed me to blossom in such an undoubtably welcoming social space, it has also had numerous benefits in regards to my academic choices and pursuit of further education. From being just another super curricular activity to add to my CV, to being one of my most valued experiences, Write Back has launched my confidence to a level that I never would have imagined for myself. Being a published author now in nearly 8 books - each one has been an emotional milestone - has meant that I am now seen through a lens of recognition and admiration of my competence and skill by anyone who I tell about my achievements in Write Back.

Aside from the writing itself, I can confidently say that one of the main reasons I continue to attend is to see our lovely, kind, and warm-hearted session leaders, Sam and Ria. Who knew that one bite-size chocolate, or one starburst picked out of the share bag could put such a smile on a person’s face? As thankful as I am for the sweets and snacks the leaders at Write Back have proven so much more to us. Every question, every comment, every single statement, a glance even! All met with the most humanising amount of care, consideration and attention. Sam has never failed to attend to the worries and concern of every single Write Back member, including myself. More things that showed a truly felt kind of empathy. Waiting behind for 30 minutes to an hour, just to talk, just to listen, to read a poem or two, to discuss the future, to discuss the present. There is an inexplicable and unteachable kind of compassion and understanding shared within the four walls where our famous Write Back is held.

Write Back is where I am seen as a writer, a poet, a student, a published author, and a teenager all at once. 

Write Back is where I am seen.

Thanks to the incredible support of the Siobhan Dowd Trust, we have been able to really embed books into all our programmes this term.

In our school and core programmes, we interviewed each young person to gather thier reading preferences, patterns and turn offs. From that we deep dived into book research and purchased three books tailored to those interests.

We then took our graduate storytellers to the magical Foyles Bookshop on Tottenham Court Road where the storytellers had the chance to explore a collection of 20,000 books and walk away with £20 worth of books chosen by them.

Meanwhile, we are working with our incredible hosts in Future Youth Zone to create a new library for all readers accessing the youth centre.

A huge thank you to the incredible Siobhan Dowd Trust whose support has made this possible.

We are so excited to announce that on Monday 20th April, the incredible comedian, presenter, author and our amazing patron Sara Pascoe is hosting a comedy night in aid of Write Back at the stunning Soho Theatre Walthamstow. It promises to be a hilarious night with Sara offering big laughs for a big cause: transformative storytelling programmes for more young people in our community.

Please purchase your ticket via the link below and treat yourself to an unmissable evening while helping raising some essential funds for our work.

“I’m so in love with the creativity, ideas and stories of young people - and can’t wait to hear more from the young writers of Barking and Dagenham. More of their voices need to be heard.”

— Sara Pascoe, Comedian, Writer and Actor - Write Back Patron

We are beyond delighted that our film ‘Ink Ignites Change’ has been nominated for a Smiley Award. The film made by Us.Man.Dere in partnership with the Media Trust and funded by the Mercers’ brings the words and ideas of some of our storytellers to the big screen. We think it captures beautifully the power of young writers’ voices. If you think so too then please don’t forget to vote for us!

Over the last six years we’ve grown from a project in one school to a charity with reach right across our borough working with youth centres, schools and other local partners to reach hundreds of young storytellers. In the last year alone, we have doubled the number of programmes we run and the number of young people we have helped to publish.

To help us navigate this period of growth, we are looking for a new Chair of Trustees to oversee a significant period of strategic choices. We are looking for someone who wants to get closely involved in setting the strategy, direction and priorities of Write Back as we transition from new ‘start-up’ into a more established charity. As a small charity, the Chair will be someone who can think ‘big picture’ but also is happy to get involved with day-to-day matters when necessary - securing new funding, overseeing our staffing model, building networks with other organisations and more.

Today we launch our brand new short film all about the power of writing. It is written and voiced by some of our graduate storytellers, made by the incredible creative team at Us Man Dere, produced by the amazing Media Trust and funded by The Mercers’ Company. We are so fortunate to have been selected for this Media Trust programme and so grateful that UMD made us such a beautiful impactful film. We hope it inspires more young people to pick up a pen and tell their stories.

“In your grip, the power lies
To shape the world, with words that rise”

— Ink Ignites Change

We are delighted to be offering schools the chance to run Write Back programmes within their premises. This term we have been rolling this out our storytelling programmes in The Jo Richardson Community School in Becontree and Greatfields School in Barking. It’s great to be able to reach even more young peole and prove that every young person has a story to tell and the power to tell it.

Two storytellers at The Jo Richardson Community School developing their stories.

“My highlight was coming together and being able to explain your problems and how you are feeling.”

— Storyteller from The Jo Richardson Community School

Amazingly, this year marks a whole decade since our very first book ‘Young Voices: Untold Stories’ was unveiled at Valence House library. It is also our 5th anniversary of being a formally registered charity. We are delighted that all these years later we still have the privilege of working with young people in Barking and Dagenham to find their voices and tell their stories.

Some of the orignal storytellers planning what would go on to be Write Back.

We hope that in 10 years time that we are still here giving young people the transformative opportunity to tell their stories. To ensure that’s the case, we are currently conducting deep dive interviews with young people we’ve worked with right across that 10 years to better understand our impact, work out where we can develop and ensure we have a plan fit for the future.

So if you are a current or former storyteller then watch this space and expect to hear from us soon!