The Power of Words

Ilkley Young Writers Group member Tadhg tells us about why he is hosting a storytelling event.

 

So how have I ended up writing poems and organising a story telling evening to fund my trip to Morocco with scouts?

Well a long time ago in a town far, far away (well about 5 miles) I joined the Ilkley Young Writers Group. For the past four years I’ve been going along on Monday evenings with a group of young people drawn from across the area. We’ve been challenged, encouraged and amazed by the power of words and the different ways in which people can express themselves and connect.

We’ve had residential weekends with guest authors and poets, and have met with other groups from Chapel Allerton, Calderdale and Sheffield. We’ve been encouraged to perform our poems and stories at Ilkley Literature Festival, the West Yorkshire Playhouse as well as live on a community radio station. Sometimes it has been daunting and on occasions I’ve been able to express thoughts and feelings I’d probably otherwise have kept hidden.

So there I was wondering how I was going to raise the money to be able to go to Morocco with my scout group this summer, (my paper round allowed me to save some money towards it but I needed to raise more). Last year I started to offer to write poems for anyone that would send me three words and a picture with my personalised poems.

With the encouragement of my writers’ group I decided to run a storytelling evening in Guiseley on Friday 11 March. When we contacted the local press, I was so delighted about their positive response and very generous coverage from the Ilkley Gazette. I’d like to encourage everyone to tell stories and especially young people to join a group like ours – I think it is proving that the pen is mightier than the sponsored walk!

Storytelling Evening
Friday 11 March, 7.30pm, at Cooper’s, Otley Road, Guiseley, LS20 8AH.
Tickets are £5, Concessions £3, Families £12 and available from Coopers or by email.