The wonderful English Pen has been running a Make My Day! creative writing project with the Tricycle Theatre, funded by John Lyon’s Charity, bringing writers together with young people from countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Somalia. John Hegley ran creative writing workshops and the project incorporated the Bronze Arts Award which allows the young people to gain an accreditation in the arts whilst developing their own practice, increasing their confidence in researching, investigating and communicating with their peers. As part of the award the young people had to research their Arts Hero which inspired some of their writing. As did their personal stories and experiences as young new arrivals, refugees and migrants.

The group have produced a diary to record their beautiful, unique, challenging and thought provoking work. English Pen kindly produced this diary in time for Refugee Week but they are fantastic for all year round and we still have some copies to share with you! They’re a bit different from your normal diary too as these ones run from June to June to put International Refugee Day and Refugee Week at the very top of our calendars! It’s time to invite the crowds to follow US and support refugees and migrants in the UK!

If you would like a copy please contact emily@counterpoints.org.uk

If you can make a donation these will go towards future Refugee Week projects. You can make your donations here.