Creative writing classes

Participants range in age and creative writing experience but all come from the Coolessan area. The four week long workshop looks at people’s experiences of the turbulent past in Northern Ireland and challenges the developing writers to put this into their own words. John Harding, workshop facilitator is a published writer himself, and has years of experience in both writing and holding creative sessions.

The project is funded under the European Union’s PEACE III Programme which is managed on behalf of the Special EU Programmes Body by the North East PEACE III Partnership.

Sheila McWilliams, Chairperson of Coolessan Community Association said “The group loved it; they got a lot out of it and are grateful to have had the opportunity to delve into the past and express their thoughts on paper. We released forgotten memories that defined why we are the way we are today. It was enlightening”.

Cohesion Officer Hollie Brown commented: “We are delighted to have someone as talented as John Harding to deliver the Creative Writing in Peace-building workshops. John has a unique and sensitive approach to assisting budding writers to express themselves. It is an excellent opportunity for participants to assert themselves in a safe and experiential way and is a very positive and imaginative way to help process personal history”.