Susan L. Edser
Small faces look towards me as we begin our last writing session of the year. They are all wearing Christmas-themed attire, from the ball-ball antlers headband I brought along to Rudolph’s flashing nose. Ali Sparkes, internationally published children’s author and lead facilitator, has devised a session involving crackers, chocolates, and our favourite writing games. Everyone laughs as they admire each other’s silly hats and Christmas jumpers.
Matt West, ArtfulScribe’s Director, began the organisation 13 years ago, as he was curious about the role creative writing could play in the community. It now supports writers across the South Coast through spoken word events, residencies and workshops. ‘ArtfulScribe aims to enrich and uplift people through the power of written and spoken word,’ he explained. ‘It is for us to use our platform for the benefit of others.’
The organisation’s ethos and sense of service resonate with my values, having worked on community-based projects throughout my career. I supported homeless people with mental health and substance misuse issues, set up and managed a mentoring project for young people leaving care and taught horticultural skills to adults with learning disabilities. As a facilitator and assistant for ArtfulScribe, I teach and support writing skills and, just as importantly, aim to nurture each group member. When anxiety nearly stops a young person from joining our session, I do all I can to help them feel more at ease. When a child writes well, I encourage them with praise. Writing is the medium here, but the purpose is the same: to create a community of kindness and generosity.
Matt explained that as the organisation grows, he wants it to ‘touch the lives of those we serve in positive and potentially life-enhancing ways’. I completed an MA in Creative Writing and Publishing to pursue my aspirations, but I can also help young writers achieve their dreams. For some, that might be to develop their literacy skills; for others, it could be to become a successful writer. I wonder who will ‘make it’ and what that might look like for each of us. Hopefully, we all will, in whatever way is meaningful.
The last session before we finish for Christmas ends. One girl passes me a card and gift bag, her face beaming as she looks up at me. I have seen her confidence grow as her writing ability increases and she builds friendships with others in the group. ‘Merry Christmas, Sue,’ she says. I take the items from her and glance down at the card. In her handwritten script in the top left-hand corner, she has written my name: Super Sue. ‘Merry Christmas,’ I reply, ‘Fantastic Freya.’
