Facilitation
I have a huge wealth of facilitation experience. It is an extremely varied job (which is why I love it!); on any given week I can be running or producing workshops in schools, youth centres and prisons, as well as one-off sessions in pretty much any setting you can imagine. While a lot of my work is with young people, I certainly have plenty to offer groups of all ages and demographics. You can read about my most recent projects in my portfolio, or see below for a flavour of some of my ongoing work:
Teaching in HMP Northumberland
In the spring of 2023 I was commissioned by Kielder Observatory and the Joicey Trust to work on an astronomy-themed writing project with learners at HMP Northumberland (you can read all about it here). This was my first experience of working within the criminal justice system, and since then I've been lucky enough to be invited back several times, to a few different prisons, to deliver creative writing projects on a range of themes. The projects vary in length, from blocks of three to twelve weeks, and have had outcomes such as short stories, mini zines and a poetry anthology.
The education provision in more than fifty prisons is provided by Novus, who have been instrumental in recruiting learners to participate in the projects, promoting and celebrating their great work, and helping integrate what they've learnt in the sessions with their work in subjects like English and Creative Enterprise. At the moment I visit HMP Northumberland once a month to help the staff and learners coordinate activity for the National Year of Reading - which so far has included sessions on sport, music, book reviews, and poetry. We will shortly be putting resources together to share with learners' families on the National Day for Children with a Parent in Prison (25th November).
Learner feedback:
"Bridget was very helpful and gave us plenty of advice. Very easy to get along with and encouraged us to express ourselves. I have thoroughly enjoyed the sessions."
"With every poem it made me grow in my writing."
"This is a person who enjoys doing what she does, which reflects on how popular she has been to our class"
"A fantastic opportunity to listen to others, and be creative without being mocked"
Creative Writing About Loss
I have been running the online Creative Writing Group for UK bereavement charity Let's Talk About Loss since 2020. This has always included some ad hoc virtual writing sessions, but this year I was commissioned to make them a monthly occurrence and also bring in a range of guest facilitators to work alongside me. There is a different theme each month - which so far has included Pride Month, South Asian Writers, Memoir and Life Writing and Neurodivergent Grief. Participants are invited to explore the theme with some discussion points before being led through a couple of low pressure writing prompts.
Writer feedback:
"I'm forever grateful for this space"
"Very comforting session - this was just right, and didn't feel too heavy"
"This was really well focused, I had ideas immediately, and never had to second guess if what I was writing was 'good', it was just whatever felt true to me. So thank you!"
"Bridget is a fantastic host, and really made everyone feel at ease and welcome"
