Pen and Tonic projects
Pen and Tonic believes that the shaping of stories is not the exclusive province of the highly literate and ‘talented’. Everyone has a story and everyone can use their stories to benefit themselves and their communities.
Current projects include:
Writing for parents and young people
At Central Library, North Shields, every Thursday 4 - 6pm until 8th July . All resources are provided and no experience is necessary. This is a free nine-week course run by Pen and Tonic and North Tyneside Council Adult Learning Alliance’s Family Learning Team. It’s an opportunity for parents/carers and young people aged nine-plus to learn about how writing can be fun and make you feel better. For more information give us a ring or email us.
Arts on Prescription - Pen and Tonic has been commissioned by County Durham PCT to this new service which will undergo an 18-month pilot period. The pilot aims to provide and coordinate arts based activity on prescription for individuals vulnerable to poor mental health or with existing low level mental health problems such as stress.
Pen and Tonic in collaboration with West End Befrienders, Care Homes Project are providing a unique training opportunity for volunteers to develop creative writing and story-telling skills to be used in interaction with older people in a care home setting. This course is open to anyone who would like to use the skills they have learned as a volunteer with the Care Homes Project.
Volunteers will support older members of the community to stay in touch with their memories and to tell their life-story, enabling them to feel that their voice is being heard. After the course, volunteers will receive group and 1:1 support sessions from Pen and Tonic and ongoing support from Care Homes Project.
The course is now fully subscribed but if you would like more information about becoming a volunteer befriender please contact Mark Earle at West End Befrienders, Care Homes Project on 0191 2724414, mobile: 07723000678 or email carehomesproject@yahoo.co.uk
Express yourself, don’t stress yourself
"Writing for health was useful; it showed quite often what was inside me. The group was small and informal, no need to be afraid of judgements."
Member of Gateshead Tyneside Rape Crisis
"Absolutely brilliant. Really enjoyed the workshop despite initial reservations about ‘creative writing’. Brilliantly facilitated and provided me with really accessible ways of writing ‘creatively’ that I can take forward (hopefully) with the clients I work with."
Occupational Therapist
"What a wonderful chance to get away from the pressures of work and discover that everyone can write and does have a voice."
Librarian, City Library Training Day