Pigeons & Doves
Bury, Manchester
2022 - 2023
Pigeons & Doves is a new writing initiative for young people that is dedicated to supporting under-resourced students ages 7-18 with their creative and expository writing skills. Following a series of pilot projects we have teamed up with Bury Libraries to develop a strategic programme inspired by the 826 Valencia model to establish a new structured writing offer across Bury borough in Greater Manchester.
This first round of courses will take place in Summer and Autumn 2022. The summer programme will be delivered during daily sessions supported by diverse guest artists and writers from Bury as both writing mentors and role models. The Autumn course will be weekly using the same guest writer/writing format building a young writing community alongside new pieces of work and publications (free to participants).
Pigeons & Doves has been in development since 2019, aiming to transform youngsters relationship to writing by building confidence and pride, and by providing individualised attention and support. The programme aims to give young people who don’t have the opportunity to explore their creativity through the school curriculum a home to tell their story, and offers the tools for them to find their voice. This involves creative writing clubs; visiting author and playwright classes; 1;1 participant support; library, theatre & heritage inspiration visits; and mentoring & creative careers support.
Curated Place have consulted widely with communities and stakeholders through development of the Bury Cultural Strategy, which has identified the need for investment in people not just buildings for a thriving town. Pigeons and Doves aims to be a vehicle for positive change anchored in the local libraries but able to function out of any space, developing communities and projects directly in and with the neighbourhoods where it is most needed.
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