Academic year 2024 – 2025 started off in fine style! It was a pleasure to open new school libraries in Clitheroe and Colne – always makes my heart sing. I delivered my first ATSA session in Atherton, collaborating with Wigan libraries, to fire up talented writers from eight local primaries. School visits in Blackpool and…
There’s nothing like a quiet finish to the academic year and this term was definitely nothing like a quiet finish!! School visits across the North West included stops in Lancaster, Blackpool, Wigan, Clitheroe and Cheadle to name but a few, plus a couple of road trips to schools in Cumbria. This all meant I clocked…
What a term that was! The school visits kicked off in January with three days spent in Worcestershire – the third visit building links with three fabulous schools in Redditch. The rest of the term was spent in 30+ schools across the North West. From Blackpool to Wigan and Warrington to Lytham, I had a…
Ten school visits and two library events finished off the year in style! From Oldham to Blackburn, Lytham St Annes to Liverpool and all stops between, I had a mega time. I even managed to perform a story at The Octagon Theatre, Bolton – what an experience! We’ve told stories, made stories and hopefully inspired…
The academic year ended with a flurry of visits including trips to Blackburn, Leigh, Fleetwood, Padiham, Wigan and Barrow-in-Furness to name but a few. I even squeezed in a visit to Oldham libraries to take part in the Children’s Literature Festival. This school year, I have visited over fifty schools stretching from Cumbria to Worcestershire…
A seriously busy term started with a visit to Unity Academy, Blackpool at the beginning of January and ended back at Unity just before Easter. Between those visits, I stopped off at just short of thirty schools as well as eight libraries. Visits to Bolton, Wigan, Redditch, Preston, Stockport and Stoke-on-Trent to name but a…
Another Autumn term has drawn to a close and what a cracker it’s been! I’ve visited loads of schools across the North West working with thousands of children, delivered storytelling sessions in libraries and even participated in a community project in Rochdale. I’m going to take some time out over Christmas to rest and recharge…
The sun may have been shining but I didn’t see much of it as I was busy visiting lots of schools! I had a fantastic few months working with twenty schools. From Fleetwood to Rawtenstall, Blackpool to Barnoldswick, Kirkby Lonsdale to Darwen and Barrow to Swinton – I had an absolute blast! I even managed…
The final half term of the academic year saw a flurry of visits as I rebooted my in-person visits. I had the pleasure of working with the Year 3 pupils at Unity Academy, Blackpool, creating fearsome pirate characters. An afternoon visit to St Catherine’s Academy, Bolton, was spent telling stories and answering lots of questions…
If I’m honest, I was worried that WBD 2021 might not be able to happen. Covid and repeated lockdowns had changed everything and rather than visiting schools I was busy creating virtual options to keep the book buzz alive. Well I need not have worried! Schools and youth groups adapted, evolved and completely embraced the…