Call-out for Applications: Paid opportunity for Writers

A Literature Wales project with year 6 pupils in Rhondda Cynon Taf, funded by the Rhys Davies Trust and supported by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.

Participation in literature is one of Literature Wales’ three activity pillars and main areas of work. We aim to increase the accessibility and impact of creative writing for participants in Wales in order to inspire some of our most marginalised individuals and communities through active participation in literature.

Based on our understanding of the power of literature to improve and transform lives, and the need to focus our activities where they will have greatest impact, Representation & Equality, Health and Well-being, and Children and Young People are our three Tactical Priorities. They are a theme that features in everything we deliver, and in our partnership and facilitation work.

Literature Wales has received funding from the Rhys Davies Trust to run a creative writing project with schools from Rhondda Cynon Taf. The project is being supported by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. The project will be delivered during the second half of the summer school term 2021, between 7 June – 16 July. The Rhys Davies Trust’s aims are to foster Welsh writing in English, in particular in the valleys of south Wales, therefore this particular project will be delivered through the medium of English.

What opportunities are available? 

There are the two paid opportunities available as part of this project.

Lead Creative Practitioner / Writer (or a team of two to share the work)

We are looking for a Lead Creative Practitioner / Writer to devise, develop and deliver a participatory literature project with year 6 pupils across Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The fee will be £2,500 for full delivery of the project. This is equivalent to 10 days of work at £250 per day.

This fee is for:

• devising and developing a suitable format, and engaging content, for a creative writing workshop suitable for year 6 pupils. The Lead Creative Practitioner / Writer can decide on a suitable theme;
• running 8 short days of workshops for groups of year 6 pupils from a number of primary schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Or this can be split into 16 half-day workshops*;
• 1 day of planning and meetings prior to delivery of workshops; and
• 1 day of editing creative work created by the children for showcasing (for example a pamphlet or film).

*Workshops can be delivered via an online platform, or presented as a video resource followed by live follow-up sessions.

This fee is inclusive of all expenses including VAT.

The Lead Creative Practitioner / Writer will:

• be able to deliver the project for the budget discussed and agreed with Literature Wales;
• be able to work with children aged 10 – 11 years old (year 6);
• be able to deliver the project between 7 June – 16 July 2021;
• have specific experience in delivering participatory literature workshops with children and young people;
• be able to work closely with a shadowing writer to deliver the project;
• have a current enhanced level DBS check (Literature Wales can advise); and
• be able to deliver via an online platform such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams (Literature Wales can advise).

Paid Shadowing Opportunity

We are also inviting expressions of interest from early career writers who would benefit from further training and experience in this line of work, to shadow a more experienced practitioner during the project. The fee for this opportunity is £500.

This will include:

• shadowing an experienced creative practitioner in the development and delivery of the project;
• contributing to the creative ideas and activities of the workshops in planning meetings and during the workshops; and
• delivering a short evaluation activity at the end of the project.

The early career writer will:

• be willing and able to commit to attending at least half of the planned workshops and all planning meetings;
• be committed to learning from an experienced practitioner;
• have an interest in delivering participatory literature workshops;

• have a current enhanced level DBS check (Literature Wales can advise); and
• be able to access online activity.

This fee is inclusive of all expenses including VAT.

How to apply?

Click here to apply for one of these opportunities. You will have the option to apply for one of the two opportunities available.

You will be asked to:

1. Complete a short application form and an Equality and Diversity form.The application form will ask you to detail:

• Why you think you are suitable for the opportunity;
• An overview of the project you would like to develop with the children (including any showcasing ideas, and themes you would like to explore) – for Lead Practitioner only; or
• How you would benefit from the opportunity and how it would help you in the future – for Shadowing opportunity only.

2. A simple CV identifying relevant experiences and or/potential.

Eligibility

All Wales-based writers and artists are eligible to apply for this opportunity.

Priority will be given to the following:

• those who identify with at least one of our Target Client Characteristics (individuals on low income, individuals from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background, individuals with disabilities or long-term illnesses, mental or physical);
• those who are not already in receipt of any regular funding from Literature Wales, nor paid work in the past 12 months;
• freelance writers who have lost work due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
• writers living in Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Authority, or those with a close personal connection to the area.

Closing date for applications:

12.00 noon, Monday 24 May 2021