In September 2009, 58 members of the Young People’s Writing Squads from across South Wales came together in the National Assembly’s Senedd and Tŷ Hywel buildings in Cardiff Bay to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the National Assembly for Wales and to work with some of Wales’ leading writers to create poems about the Senedd.
12 different Writing Squads from 8 local authorities took part in the event, including Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Blaenau Gwent and Swansea.
The event formed part of Academi’s activities to develop and enhance the Young People’s Writing Squads with its additional funding from an Arts Council of Wales’ Beacon Company Award. The Young People’s Writing Squads have been developed over the past decade by Academi in association with the local authorities in Wales. The squads aim to locate gifted writers in each authority region and introduce them to some of Wales’ leading writers and teachers of writing. Young People’s Writing Squads welcome children whose creative writing shows particular ability and promise.
Academi’s Chief Executive Peter Finch says: “The Academi’s Young People’s Writing Squads have caught the imagination of new writers right across the country. Facilitated with an Arts Council Beacons Award, Squads have now been exposed to the workings of government and have proved more than able to make a creative response. The literary future of Wales is in good hands.”
During the event, the young writers were given guided tours of the Senedd and Tŷ Hywel buildings by the Assembly’s Education Officers, took part in a debate in the former debating chamber Siambr Hywel and all the young people had the chance to meet some of their local Assembly Members, including AM Peter Black and AM Nerys Evans.
In the afternoon, the children worked with some of Wales’ leading writers. One group worked with Ceri Wyn Jones through the medium of Welsh, while two groups worked in English, one with Robert Minhinnick and one with National Poet Gillian Clarke. In total, the children produced over fifty poems of on the day and Academi will soon publish a selection of the works in a brochure to commemorate the day. Here is a taste of the work the young writers have created:
Its grand wooden roof an accurate replica of the calm Cardiff waves.
Its huge glass windows displaying the amazing beauty the Bay provides.
Its heavy slate floor creating an unfamiliar texture beneath my feet.
The mighty glass panels surrounding the debating chamber
Which hold the keys to the Welsh future, light up the room.
The most amazing piece of art work at the heart of the huge buildings.
Its grand beauty bringing thousands of people from across the world
To the country we are all proud to call our own.
The sound of patriotic visitors praising its uniqueness.
I can feel the warmth the great glass windows draw from the sunlight,
The smell of the nearby docks creeping up my nose.
As I leave the magnificent building, I walk through the huge glass doors.
I look over my shoulder and am taken in by its beauty all over again.
Laura Caughlin, 12
Blaenau Gwent Writing Squad
