We got it right at Aye Write!
Congratulations to Harriet and Kevin who are supported by Living Ambitions in Glasgow for their outstanding achievement of having their stories showcased as part of Glasgow’s Aye Write Book Festival.
They told us that:
“we wanted to enhance our literacy and numeracy skills. Shaun Pearce, Cultural Services Officer at Glasgow Life, helped us to find a tutor and a venue for our learning. We have been attending a weekly class at Bridgeton Library in Glasgow and we are thoroughly enjoying being part of this community based learning programme. We worked closely alongside our tutor Sharon and Key Worker Bryan who helped us to achieve our goals. Our studies led to the opportunity to take part in the Aye Write Festival.”
As part of their preparations for the festival, Harriet and Kevin attended a ‘Meet the Writer’ workshop led by acclaimed local playwright and director John Binnie at Balgrayhill Community Centre Springburn.
They said:
“the workshop was very interactive in a relaxed setting, giving us the opportunity to get fully involved. John took the time to come round and speak with all the writers individually offering us help and advice to develop our creative writing skills.”
Harriet added:
“I was delighted when John chose to read my story aloud. I was laughing because he read it in a really funny American accent. John then asked me to stand up and act it out. Although I was nervous, I did it and it was really fun. We all enjoyed our afternoon and it was great meeting the other learners from across the city who were also going to be taking part in the Aye Write Festival.”
The big day took place on Friday 18th March at the city’s Mitchell Library. The theme was ‘journeys’, and Harriet and Kevin each wrote a short story about a meaningful personal trip. Their friends John and Patrick went along to cheer them on, accompanied by staff members Rosemary and Bryan.
Harriet and Kevin were delighted to see their stories featured at the event. They said:
“it was an honour to have the opportunity to read and listen to the stories of the other talented writers who took part. We had the pleasure of meeting Jim Carruth, Glasgow’s poet laureate, who spoke highly of the writers’ hard work and accomplishments. He said that it was his favourite event of the festival. Overall the day was absolutely fantastic and hugely inspiring.”
Harriet and Kevin plan to continue writing and their next goal is to build enough confidence to stand up on up on stage and read aloud at the Glasgow ‘Aye Write’ Festival in 2017.