‘Young Fogies’ Creative Writing Group
This group was based at a day centre in Orchard Park, an area of Hull recognised as among the 20% most deprived wards in England (Multiple Index of Deprivation, Index 2000). The centre exists to provide day care for older adults, many of whom have physical and learning disabilities.
Hull CVS ‘Learning Through Involvement’ project became involved with the group in May 2001, following a referral from Hull DOC, a local development agency.
Many of the service users had expressed an interest in creative writing and had written the odd piece off their own backs. They did, however, want something a little more structured and this is where Hull CVS came in. Initially, Hull CVS’ Learning Development Worker had a meeting with several of the users in order to get an idea of the kind of topics they wanted to explore. Following this, he liaised with local authors, Alec Gill and Audrey Dunne, who were more than enthusiastic, arranging to come along to the centre to meet the potential learners.
The first meeting was a ‘getting to know you’ session, which helped put learners at their ease. Importantly, it also gave the group the opportunity to state what it was that they wanted to learn, so that each session would be learner-led. Additionally, the class took place in a quiet room in the centre, a venue with which all were familiar and in which they felt comfortable.
It soon became apparent that the group very much wanted to write about past events and experiences, so this was facilitated by the tutors. As part of the learning, the group was introduced to various aspects of English grammar, such as homonyms, and presented with memory-stirring questions. Each learner kept a file in which every handout and piece of writing was kept. Over the weeks, this built into an impressive record of work undertaken.
Tutor evaluation sheets required the facilitators to comment on learner progress, such as increased confidence, motivation and team working. Additionally, the tutors were asked to evidence why they thought that this progress had taken place and to explain the methods used to collate this evidence (group observation, portfolio building, etc.)
In addition, learners completed evaluation sheets which would evidence learning having taken place, as well as the development of softer skills, such as motivation and group working.
As the learners’ ability differed within the group, each learner was allowed to progress at his or her own pace, the main factor being that the learning was being tailored to meet individual needs.
In total, nineteen learners registered to take part over nine months, with an average attendance of thirteen. Such was the volume of work produced, that the facilitators suggested compiling a book, which would be published locally with the help of the University of Hull and Wordspin, a local publisher. The resulting ‘Young Fogies’ came into being several months later. The launch was attended by the writers themselves, their carers, the facilitators, local press and deputy Lord Mayor. The creation of this book is a shining example of how learning can take place in the most informal of settings and also proof that people are never too old to learn.
Mike Scott Hull CVS
20 May 2005
Hull CVS