Skywriters Director Natalie Denny makes the Northern Power Women Awards 2023 Shortlist!
Northern Power Women Awards 2023 Shortlist announced and our very own Natalie Denny features in the One to Watch category!
The Northern Power Women Awards is proudly sponsored by headline partner, EY, and hosted by Nina Hossain is happening at Manchester Central Convention Complex on Monday 20th March 2023. The Awards constitute the largest celebration of gender equality in Europe and celebrates the forward-thinking individuals and organisations who strive to create greater gender balance within their communities.
Natalie Denny, Skywriters Ltd gave her comments:
“Thanks so much to Northern Power Women for shortlisting me in the One to Watch Category! To be shortlisted from 1,500 nominations is an honour! I’m very excited to be amongst so many trailblazers and innovators in the North and look forward to celebrating with them at the awards night!”
Alison Kay, Managing Partner for Client Service at EY, UK and Ireland, commented on the release of the 2022 shortlist:
"With 1,500 nominations for this year’s awards, just to be shortlisted is an immense achievement. All nominations were carefully considered and we saw first-hand, throughout the judging process just how high the calibre of nominations were. EY are very proud to support an event that recognises so many powerful role models and organisations from across the North."
This year, Northern Power Women wants to have an even bigger impact across its community and that starts with giving everyone on the shortlist a place on a 12-week mentoring programme. Representation can be seen from every walk of life, leaders, influencers, even those at the start of their career.
The Awards are just one component of a vast programme of activity aimed at creating collaboration and conversation for the greater good. There are 100 women named across the Future List and Power List - which recognises the leaders and change-makers of the future will be announced on Tuesday 7th February – in addition to the further 11 award categories, which include ‘agent of change’, ‘disruptor for good’ and ‘one to watch’.
Simone Roche MBE, founder and CEO of Northern Power Women, also spoke of this year’s shortlist:
“Among the 89 shortlisted nominees are fantastic trailblazers and advocates from the North, representing a range of industries and professions. Each of these individuals and organisations highlight just how varied the definition of success can be, as well as demonstrating that each of us has the power to make real change.”
The winners of the Northern Power Women Awards will be announced on Monday 20th of March 2023 at an awards night and dinner at the Manchester Central Convention Complex. Individual tickets and corporate tables are now available for purchase, and will once again offer 'Pay it Forward' and discounted tickets through a ballot for individuals who may otherwise not be able to attend (to date this has enabled over 280 individuals to attend).
We can’t wait!
Skywriters 2022: Year in Review
Skywriters Year in Review 2022
A fantastic 12 months for our award winning organisation! 🌠🖤
It’s been an amazing year for Skywriters; delivering creative opportunities to hundreds of children and adults across Liverpool City Region, launching and establishing our creative writing programmes, events and products AND becoming an award winning organisation and Director.
Read our year in review HERE and subscribe to our Newsletter!
New Year, New Newsletter!
Welcome!
Happy New Year All! We will be reviewing our year this week but before we do that we thought we would let you know about our brand spanking Skywriters newsletter! Keeping you up to date with all our events, activities and plans!
We will also provide insight into the literary world through a regular feature from our Director, Natalie Denny as she makes her publishing debut in 2023.
Exciting, right?!
So… :
1. Why this, why now?
Skywriters is an award winning social enterprise with a mission to use creative writing, training and consultancy, as a catalyst for uplifting personal and social impact experiences for individuals, communities and businesses.
That’s a really long way of saying we are an organisation that uses creativity to make things better!
We are launching this space to keep you up to date with the all things Skywriters and beyond. We’ve had a fantastic two years and want to reach a wider audience and keep in contact with our current supporters.
2. What kind of community are we looking to build here?
We are not just starting a newsletter, we are starting a community. This is a creative, open space to enable us to share our processes and plans with you in and honest and engaging way!
3. What are we offering?
In this newsletter we will:
Post weekly information on all our events, activities and plans.
Provide writing hints and tips.
Signpost to writing opportunities and tools.
Explore different literary approaches.
Feature insights from Natalie Denny as she makes her traditional author debut!
4. Subscribe, Subscribe, SUBSCRIBE!
If you’re a writer looking for some literary inspired input or a parent/carer who is looking for some creative and fun activities for your children then this newsletter is for you!
Please subscribe for updates and join the Skywriters Creative Community here!
Merseyside Independent Business Awards Best Start up of the Year 2022!
A message from our Director, Natalie Denny:
This time 2 years ago I had just had news of my redundancy. It was the height of the pandemic and like everywhere else, my employer had to make cuts. Unfortunately, I was impacted. I remember a sense of pure fear. The pandemic had changed so much for so many and it was the first time in my life I was uncertain about my future.
I made the choice to work part time and use the rest of the time to start my business and focus on my dream; to be a writer. I had some commissions previously but had never given my writing the attention it deserved. I kept 2 days for writing and setting up my social enterprise; Skywriters. It was a whirlwind; a bit like my personality! Ha! I was focused and frightened but determined to make it work. And work it did. Within 6 months I had a wonderful agent and a fabulous book opportunity. I took the leap to invest in myself and my dream and it paid off. Projects and events with Halton Council, Mersey Care, Curious Minds, National Museums Liverpool, Liverpool Literacy Cycle and many more has elevated Skywriters and led to many opportunities.
Two nights ago, Skywriters Ltd, my little social enterprise that started as an idea to lift heads and hearts through writing, EDI training and consultancy, won the Best Start Up category at the Merseyside Independent Business Awards! We are a small team but we work hard and I am so very proud of us and this achievement; especially in such a strong group of independents! Congratulations to all finalists and winners!🎉🏆
Thank you to everyone single person, organisation and partner that has been with us over these two years. Special shout out to Merseyside Enterprise Hub, School for Social Entrepreneurs North West . Writing on the Wall The Women's Organisation, Anthony Walker Foundation National Museums Liverpool Curious Minds Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Halton Borough Council , Liverpool Literacy Cycle and everyone else. To all our friends and family who have supported us tirelessly. Our accountant Robert Burke who deals with everything finance related so I don't have to! My fiancé Jon, who is Skywriters artistic genius, content to be in the background while I hog all the limelight!
"Follow your dreams" is such a cliché for a reason. In my case it was a path to happiness for my own writing aspirations and social enterprise goals. Even in the tough times of Skywriters we clung to the idea of supporting people through creativity; of creating spaces and experiences that accept and celebrate everyone. It is a labour of love which isn't particularly business like speak but it's the reason we do what we do and why winning this award means so much!
To join our Skywriters community contact us! We will be launching our corporate partnership packages shortly and would love to have you affiliated to our AWARD WINNING TEAM.
Here's to the future! 🖤🌠
#Skywriters #WriteTheSky #writer #business #writing #followyourheart #followyourdreams #MIB22 #community #Awards
MWOTY Social Impact Winner 2022! Why I am still celebrating!
I'm still on a high from the MWOTY AWARDS 🎉
To understand why clearly is to time travel back to December 2020. I had just been made redundant from my role due to the impact of the pandemic and was faced with an important decision:
1️⃣ Apply for a well paid full time job at another organisation
or
2️⃣ Start my own creative business and follow my writing dream
I chose the latter option.
It was exciting and terrifying in equal measure. I used all my skills from my previous positions to make my business and writing career a success; building a community of support and opportunities and linking in my EDI work with Anthony Walker Foundation and my activism with The Period Project Merseyside, The Goddess Projects and Scouse Solidarity Sisters.
Within 6 months I was offered an amazing book opportunity as a children's author and secured a dream literary agent to help support my career.
My business, Skywriters Ltd, has been involved in fantastic projects over the year, making real positive changes across Merseyside. What's so exciting is we have so much more to come!
The final realisation that I made the right decision came on Friday 1st July 2022 when I was crowned Merseyside Woman of the Social Impact Award Winner!🏆
If you have a passion, a calling, a heart project then indulge it with dedication. Create the life you wish to lead and bring others along with you. Centre your community. That's not very business like advice but as I mentioned in my acceptance speech on Friday, everything I have achieved took a village to breathe life into, develop and grow.
I think about where I would be if I went for the easier safer option in December 2020 and I'm so glad I chose the unknown.
My ultimate goal is to make myself redundant, create change in anti-racism, period poverty, the creative world and general society, so that my services are no longer required. That for me is a true measure of success.
I called my business Skywriters as an aspirational title. To lift heads and hearts including my own.
Here's to following our dreams and making the world a little brighter along the way! ✨️
#writing #job #opportunity #work #success #business #community #project #creative #creative #socialimpact #society
Merseyside Woman of the Year Social Impact Winner 2022!
Oh what a day and night!
I was convinced I wasn't going to win anything. Even told my mates to stop filming before the results! Then come away with Merseyside Women of the Year SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD sponsored by Everton Football Club Maybe I need to have a bit more confidence hey!
As I said in my acceptance speech it takes a village to make any sort of change and I couldn't do it without the support of my community.
Thank you to my mate Clair for nominating me. You often don't think people see what you are doing and the fact you took time out to fill in the application means so much to me!
Thanks to everyone involved in The Period Project Merseyside The Goddess Projects Finesse Morris Anthony Walker Foundation and Scouse Solidarity Sisters Amazing women who I adore!
Thanks to Everton Football Club who sponsored the award
My little business Skywriters Ltd is just one year old and I'm so proud of what it's achieved in that time!
I'm an award winning Founder and Director! How mad is that! I am so grateful but more than anything I hope this brings much needed attention and resources to the projects I'm involved in to support others!
Skywriters Year Round up 2021!
We have been quiet on our website but that’s because we’ve been so busy! We thought we'd reflect on what we've achieved in the year, bringing creative writing to people in the North West!
Launched our Skywriters website and socials!
Raised £1600 in our GoFundMe!
Participated in our first activist actions with Scouse Christmas Stockings, a group of Merseyside women activists who organised a foodbank drive and Christmas stocking appeal for kids this festive period.
Interviewed Sophie Williams, author of Millennium Black and Anti-Racist Ally: An Introduction to Action and Activism.
Guest tutor on the Fairy Tale Medicine Journey Course with Clare Jasmine Beloved.
Nat was nominated as inspirational Black woman for Blackburne House.
Interviews and features with BBC Radio Merseyside, Liverpool Live Radio and Liverpool Echo, The Guide and Liverpool Life magazine, Capital Radio and Svara Radio.
Delivered Skywriters Sessions on Instagram live to encourage people to get involved with writing.
Featured as a panelist on the Starting your business in a Pandemic Launchpad event with Women's Organisation and Enterprise Hub.
Featured as a judge on Creative Spaces Co Imagine That Children's Waiting competition.
Involved in launch and events for Liverpool Year of Writing.
Launched the first Skywriters book on World Book Day!
Created Skywriters YouTube channel
Delivered session on publishing and writing with Root-ed zine
A guest on the Women's Organisation #WontBeTheLast panel with Jacqui Weaver
On screens in Liverpool City Centre and Wembley Stadium for international women's day!
Performed poetry in the #ReclaimTheseStreets Vigil to remember Sarah Everard.
Performed 'Asking For It' poem on BBC North West Tonight as part of a feature on violence against women and girls.
Created 'Asking For It' poem video with 25 other women and launched on World Poetry Day.
Registered Skywriters as an official Limited company!
Comissioned by Liverpool Biennial to write three children's story for their activity packs.
Panel member for the Firestartes Events on Building Back Equal.
Interviewed Alex Wheattle and Courtia Newland, writers of the Small Axe films by Steve McQueen.
Selected as a writer for the HEAR ME NOW monologues published by Bloomsbury in 2022.
Interviewed Faridah Abíké-íyímídé on her amazing YA debut for Black Ballad.
Launched The Muse Room, a free hub for creatives. Bimonthly we will meet to discuss Books, Theatre, Film, TV or music that's all focused on inspiration and creativity. Attended Fatastically Great Women at Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse.
Delivered the Skywriters and Ella Performance Group writing project and exhibition with CultureHQ.
Invited on the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Start Up Programme at @sse_northwest to develop and grow #Skywriters
Skywriters stall and performed at the Liverpool Year of Writing 2021 Bootcamp and Marketplace.
Nat signed with agent and secured exciting book opportunities
Featured in Open media UK and Anthony Walker Foundation #HearMeNow campaign for positive Black role models.
Launched Skywriters weekly writing group for Black Women and women of colour with the Goddess Projects.
Launched The Stuff of Poetry, our first poetry exhibition with Liverpool John Moores University.
Supported the Scouse Christmas Stockings appeal with Scouse Solidarity Sisters for children in Liverpool and distributed to local community organisations.
Delivered #TheStuffofPoetry exhibition visit and session to Arch Bishop Blanche Year 12’s.
Donated 12 Skywriters books to Agent Marketing #Agent Reads appeal.
Launched the Skywriters Advent Caleder of Writing,
We want to take this opportunity to thank every single person who has supported us over the past twelve months. Without your support Skywriters would be just an idea!
Stick with us! We're just getting started!
Nat
Skywriters Book Launch on World Book Day!
Skywriters and Creative Spaces Co. have teamed up for a World Book day event to launch the Skywriters book!
Skywriters, based in Liverpool, Merseyside was born out of the heartache of the pandemic with the intention of lifting heads and spirits through the art of writing. Established in October 2020, Skywriters is a creative education initiative to support communities with confidence, self-esteem, personal development and combat social isolation.
The first Skywriters book and education programme was funded via GoFundMe campaign of which 73 amazing donors contributed to.
Skywriters have partnered with Creative Spaces Co. to for the book launch event, to discuss the book with author, Natalie Denny and the fantastic work both projects are doing, alongside facilitating some creative games. World Book Day costumes are encouraged!
Natalie Denny, Skywriters Director and author, said:
“I’m so excited about launching the first Skywriters book into the world! The fact the book was funded by local people during a pandemic means so much to me and reiterates what Skywriters is all about: community. The book is aimed at secondary school children and adults and deals with themes such as self-esteem and self-love, grief, identity and
connection through poetry, prose and illustrations. I hope readers enjoy it as much as I did writing it."
Rachael O’Byrne, Creative Spaces Co, said:
“World Book Day is one of our favourite events in the year, so whilst we can’t come together for stories, games and a little silliness; we’re really looking forward to going online with Skywriters to help them launch their fantastic new book, play games and most importantly be together”
The Skywriters launch event is on Thursday 4th March, 12pm. Tickets available on Eventbrite below.
Skywriters Book Launch on World Book Day Tickets, Thu 4 Mar 2021 at 12:00 | Eventbrite
Skywriters Year Round up!
Skywriters was established on 22nd October 2020 and what a whirlwind it’s been. From radio interviews and appearances in various articles to delivering our first ever Skywriters workshop. I have absolutely loved seeing my dream become a reality. Over Christmas I took some time to rest and reflect on the year. Below are some of my highlights from the short time Skywriters has been in operation.
Appeared on BBC Radio Merseyside and Liverpool Live radio.
Delivered our first ever creative workshop and received excellent feedback.
Supported Scouse Christmas Stockings and the Big Winter Foodbank Drive, collecting, packing and creating 100 stockings and football kits to families in need.
Launched Skywriters sessions, live daily writing prompts to support people to get creative.
Featured in Liverpool Echo, Liverpool Guide and Liverpool Life Magazine.
Raised £1600 on our GoFundMe for the first Skywriters books and education sessions .
At the moment the priority to creating our programmes and Skywriters book ready for the launch on World Book Day on 4th March 2021. We will also be opening up for bookings for our Story Glory, Write The Sky and Pieces of Poetry workshops soon.
Thank you to every single person who has supported us in our journey to #WriteTheSky
We hope you continue to support us as there is so much more to come!
Nat
Skywriters Christmas Creative, our first event!
Join Skywriters Christmas Creative! Find out about the Skywriters project, learn some writing skills & have some creative festive fun!
Join Skywriters Christmas Creative! Find out about the Skywriters project, learn some writing skills & have some creative festive fun! Get your tickets here!
About this Event
Skywriters is a new initiative to support communities with confidence, self esteem, personal development and cohesion through creative education and training.
Join us for our very first workshop, The Skywriters Christmas Creative. It will consist of confidence building writing exercises, skills and tips, creating your own Christmas piece and loads of festive writing fun. Plus you will learn about all the exciting projects being launched next year to support you!
During 2020 we have experienced isolation and soaring mental health issues as a result of a worldwide pandemic. Skywriters is a community that even in the face of so much sorrow, lifts heads and spirits, encouraging us to achieve our hopes, dreams and aspirations.
'Skywriters stems from my belief in the power of words and the magic of creativity, to transform lives.'
— Natalie Denny, Director
Tickets are free for The Goddess Projects members or donation only for everyone else.
Finish your year with something wonderful!
Come #WriteTheSky with us!
Week 3 Round up!
Skywriters weekly blog giving you all updates on the project!
Hello Skywriters!
This week we’ve been busy. It seems there’s a pattern emerging…
Below is a summary of our movements.
Skywriters was featured online and in print in Liverpool Echo! There was also a segment on Scouse Christmas Stockings too. We were ecstatic to be in our local paper and have a few copies at home to keep.
Had a lovely interview with Pauline Daniels from Liverpool Live Radio. Pauline was so warm and engaging. I felt at ease and able to elaborate on the Skywriters offer and ethos.
Our GoFundMe is at £955 but we still need your help to reach our target. Please share and donate if you can. Donate here.
Attended Writing on the Wall’s Level Up programme for new businesses to develop Skywriters. Session 1 was about Business planning and strategy. A very useful and informative session!
Our daily Skywriters Sessions have continued and the quality of submissions has been wonderful. Keep your eyes peeled as poems submitted by participants will feature on our website this week. If you would like to participate we hold sessions on instalive Monday to Fridays at 12pm.
Attended a two part course delivered by The Women’s Organisation on building a social media strategy.
Finally we’ve been making plans for a special Skywriters Christmas announcement to mark our one month birthday. More details to be revealed soon!
Alongside this
I participated in a workshop with The Goddess Projects, Frank Peschier of Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse and local playwright, Marj Morgan. It was an excellent event and we can’t wait to do it again!
Thanks for your continued support!
#WriteTheSky
Week 2 round up
It’s been another busy one for Skywriters! Below is a list of our movements!
Visited Clare Jasmine Beloved for an interview for her Fairytale Medicine course of which I will be a guest tutor next year, more info here.
Sent our press release around and had interviews with local papers. I will post once they have been published!
Went on Jermaine Foster’s show on BBC Radio Merseyside to talk about Skywriters, see more details here.
We launched our Skywriters sessions, daily updates and writing exercises on Instalive. I’m really excited to see how these develop and will be reviewing weekly. Some of the submissions have already been great!
Received our first donations to Scouse Christmas Stockings intiative. More info on the project here.
Was also confirmed to attend Writing on the Wall’s Level Up programme for new businesses to develop Skywriters.
Hit £800 on our GofundMe! Thank you so much for all your support! We will keep accepting donations until 1st December so still plenty of time to share or contribute. Donate here!
Alongside this
I was nominated for the Blackburne House Inspiring Black woman gallery for Black History Month, see here.
I co-delivered Ally 101: An Anti racist introduction webinar with The Goddess Projects for Homotopia Fest and appeared on Go Off Sis Hub podcast to discuss Black Girl Joy as part of #TGPFEST
Thanks for reading and all your support! Here’s too a great third week!
#WriteTheSky with me
Nat
BBC Radio Merseyside interview with Jermaine Foster
I was interviewed by Jermaine Foster yesterday for his show on BBC Radio Merseyside. Apart from talking a million miles an hour I thought it went really well. I hope my speedy gabbing conveyed my enthusiasm for Skywriters! It was great to speak about the project to someone external too. Sometimes ideas live in your head and speaking them into existence is a powerful exercise. A bit of what Skywriters is all about!
During the interview, I realised how much has been achieved considering Skywriters is less than two weeks old. When i have an idea I believe in I just go for it. I hope you believe in it too.
If you’re interested in listening to the interview it is available on SOUNDS for the next 29 days here. It’s around 2 hours 20 minutes in.
Enjoy!
#WriteTheSky #Skywriters
Skywriters Sessions launching
From Thursday 5th November 10.30am, coinciding with the 2nd lockdown, we will be launching Skywriters sessions on Instalive. These will consist of updates from lil old me or a Q&A on the Skywriters project progress and writing exercises to get your creativity flowing. You will be given 5 words and asked to include these in your writing. It can be poetry, prose, stream of consciousness- absolutely anything you like. If you wish to share your pieces we will publish on the Skywriters website or our socials. There's no pressure though. This is just a chance to have a bit of fun. Hope you can join us! 🌠🖤
#Skywriters #WriteTheSky
Fairy Tale Medicine Journey with Clare Jasmine Beloved
I had a lovely morning recording my guest teacher video with the wonderful @clarejasminebeloved for the Fairy Tale Medicine Journey course. A quote from Clare below explains in fantastic detail what this is.
“A juicy on line 12-month journey travelling through 6 enchanting deep, delicious, fairy stories in an inspiring circle laden with magic and healing. Join us as we swim through enchanted forests& selkie filled emerald oceans. Meet a cast of cackling crones, inquisitive queens & saucy goddesses.”
How can you say no to that?!
We talked about writing and stories as healing force in these times and how the Skywriters programme aims to do this.
From this session I decided a daily Skywriters exercise will start on 5th November 2020, the first day of our second lockdown. We tried it out today using some magical words as a prompt.
Thanks to Clare for inviting me as a guest teacher on the programme and for a gorgeous morning in her equally gorgeous studio. It makes me all the more excited to get the Skywriters programmes up and running!
One week in!
So my mates. It's been a week since I released Skywriters into the world. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind to say the least! I’ve not been idle! The list below details Skywriters developments.
Published the Skywriters website and set up socials.
Raised £710 on the Skywriters GoFundMe in 6 days. Donate here!
Launched Scouse Christmas Stockings, a food bank drive and Christmas Stocking appeal for kids with other local women activists. Find out more here!
Met with the wonderful Natalie Reeves-Billing, author of the Monstrous Me Collection and Lollipop Lodge. Check it out here!
Met with Merseyside Enterprise Hub with the lovely Jacqueline for a 1 to 1 session about developing Skywriters.
Created a press release to go out tomorrow. Never did one of those before!
Alongside this I have;
Chaired a fantastic discussion with Sophie Williams, author of Anti Racist Ally: An introduction to Action and Activism. This event was part of Writing on the Wall’s Black History Month Festival. See the recording of the event here!
Participated in The Goddess Projects Black Girl Lit Book Club discussing Loud Black Girls: 20 Black Women Writers Ask: What’s Next? by Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinene. I love our book sessions. Always make me feel so light!
Attended the Race Equality Task Force Meetings about how to tackle racism in the Liverpool City Region in the education sector.
Attended two workshops with the National Creative Writing Industry Conference First one was with the amazing Dr Yvonne Battle-Felton on plot devising and the second was ‘Meet the Literary Agents’ with Abi Fellows, Claire Coombes, Sile’ Edwards, chaired by writer, Sarah Butler. I also had my first ever pitching session with an agent from Curtis Brown for my novel, ‘The Girl with the Words’. I was so nervous but the feedback was positive and encouraging. It really has given me a confidence boost.
I think it’s important to talk about what I do in my personal capacity as Skywriters combines my love of writing, education and activism. Everything I do will compliment Skywriters and also give you a better idea about me, the person that runs it!
As you can see, I wasn’t messing when I said it’s been a whirlwind!
It has been a positive first week with really great feedback on the website and concept for Skywriters. I am aiming to get more widespread attention for the project in week two. I want to raise awareness of what I am trying to do and gain further support.
Any help you can offer will be appreciated.
If you’ve read this far thank you.
This community can not happen without you!
#WriteTheSky with me
Nat
Our GoFundMe is LIVEEEEEEE!!!
So the last few days have been massive for Skywriters!
Firstly the website was launched into the big wide world, secondly we launched the GoFundMe! It’s all very exhilarating and anxiety provoking. My emotions range from the upmost confidence and positivity to doubting my every decision. I’ve come to realise this is normal. Putting yourself up there, or what we call ‘Skywriting’ is a scary and wonderful thing. Thirdly it was my 11 year anniversary with my partner, Jon (Screen 14. Print Co.) He is the creative genius responsible for Skywriters illustrations and logo. I chose to launch the GoFundMe on our anniversary to further commemorate the date. Oh so romantic, aren’t I?! It was a good decision. The feedback received has been brilliant and really encouraged me. I fully believe in Skywriters mission and plan and I know this is the start of something special.
Skywriters GofundMe is set at £6000 to cover book development and production costs, piloting sessions etc. All the information you need is here! and on the Donate to GoFundMe button on the website.
In the first 24 hours 10% of the target was reached. There is another 29 days to go and I am hoping people continue to support Skywriters and join the community.
Thank you to everyone that has donated and shared so far. The level of appreciation I have for your love is hard to put into words without crying my eyes out. You’re amazing!
Nat
#WriteTheSky
The beginning…
It all begins with an idea.
My first ever Skywriters blog post! How exciting!
I’ll start by giving you a bit on context. I’ve been banging on about writing full time to my friends and family for years. It’s always been said with a wistful intake of breath and the words “Maybe next year”. I made strides this year having my writing accepted on local and national platforms and contributing to anthologies and (gasp) actually getting paid for my work. Still, fitting writing a novel and other projects around a full time job and relationship as well as trying to have a social life can prove difficult.
The Coronavirus pandemic had ravaged us in a way we never imagined. It has forced us all into isolation and claimed businesses that have been successfully standing for years. I’m currently employed within the Museums sector which is suffering from the impact of Covid-19, meaning redundancies of a grand scale have been made in attractions across the country. At first I was anxious and worried about what this might mean for a Community Engagement Manager like me, but then I started thinking about the kind of future that I actually want.
Writing is my dream. It is a tool I use to express myself, plan my life and achieve my goals. I’m finishing my first novel at the moment and involved in various writing projects. I imagined what it would be like to start a project of my own. With the impact of Covid-19 on our communities I wanted to turn my passion into an intiative that provides support to others.
And so Skywriters was formed, established in 2020, Skywriters was born out of the heartache of a pandemic in an attempt to lift spirits and heads, including my own. The aim is to provide creative education opportunities to support individuals, communities and businesses to thrive, to look skywards, put themselves up there and connect with others.
This week launching the website and the GoFundMe is the first step in a long term plan. The GoFundMe is for a book resource which will be aimed at children and adults, a tool that can be read in isolation or partnered with creative education sessions. I have split the development of Skywriters into three phases (See The Plan). The plan is ambitious but I have faith in my idea and the drive and commitment to achieve my dream.
This week will be hectic and launching a new initiative in the face of a pandemic may seem a little outlandish, but I believe Skywriters is exactly what is needed.
Thanks for your support and I hope you can continue to #WriteTheSky with me
Nat