What does Academi fund?

Young Writing Squads

Academi offers funding to Local Authorities to set up Young Writing Squads, which are very similar to the range of sports development schemes in Wales and the UK. Teachers, librarians or education advisers wishing to establish new squads in their authority are particularly encouraged to get in touch with Academi for advice and assistance.

Young Writing Squads should consist of selected children whose creative writing shows unusual ability and promise. In most cases this selection has been made at around age 9-10, with headteachers in each authority being asked to identify keen, possibly gifted, young writers. English advisors conduct the final selections and each squad of children meets roughly three or four times a year (usually on Saturdays) for special training sessions with outstanding writers who have the necessary communication skills to work with the young. The aim is to keep each squad together until the end of their schooldays.

Since its beginning in 1996, the original inaugural Gwent Squad has been followed by squads in Cardiff, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Powys, Merthyr Tydfil, Pembrokeshire, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Carmarthenshire, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbigh, Ceredigion, Monmouthshire, Anglesey, Newport and the Vale of Glamorgan. A number of authorities have more than one squad and  have separate Welsh and English language squads. More authorities are expected to develop writing squads as time goes on.

The Squads are increasingly being seen as an important part of the literary scene in Wales. The Hay Festival programmes a major series of children’s events with the writing squad members very much in mind. And the Maes at the National Eisteddfod sees a range of workshop sessions with leading Welsh language writers. A body of tutors now has experience of working
with these talented children. These include Gillian Clarke, Barry Simner, Francesca Kay, Ric Hool, Philip Gross, Robert Minhinnick, Jenny Sullivan, Moira Andrew, Mererid Hopwood, Iwan Llwyd, Gwen Redvers Jones, Ceri Wyn Jones, Elgan Phillip Davies.The Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, has worked with the Cardiff Squad and Benjamin Zephaniah has visited the Caerphilly squad.

Please contact the Academi at post@academi.org for further information about the Squads movement.