Workshops and Talks

Mel writes and delivers a broad range of poetry workshops and interactive talks for both adults and children including:

 

The Colour of Feelings – poetry workshop for adults / young people

Colours of Nature – poetry workshop for adults / young people

Spoken Word – poetry workshop for young people

What Am I? – poetry workshop for Early Years and Key Stage 1

I Smell Fish and Chips – poetry workshop for Key Stage 2

Plastic Pollution: What’s the Solution? – poetry workshop for Key Stage 2

Just a Thought – emotional health and wellbeing poetry workshop for adults

 

Mel has previously worked as a Teaching Assistant for ten years across both primary and secondary school sectors and offers poetry workshops for children and adults in schools, libraries, and other community settings across Staffordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, and the West Midlands.

 

All Mel’s workshops are based on her published poetry books, which are also available to purchase individually or in sets at workshops if required.

 

Workshops are differentiated according to need. Mel will liaise with you to plan and tailor her workshops according to the needs of your school / group.

 

Mel is passionate about inspiring children and young people to enjoy poetry as a creative art form - as well as a means to develop literacy skills – which are fundamental to achieving; both during their school career and as they enter society as young adults.

Poetry enables communication, an expression of feelings both consciously and subconsciously, and can be a powerful tool for highlighting and raising awareness of current important socio-political, environmental or other topics affecting individuals, society and our world today.

 

Mel runs a variety of workshops which focus on aspects of poetry – such as creative writing, poetic forms, and / or spoken word performance. These are on a range of topics including minibeasts, the seasons, animals, nature and the environment, as well as the workshops listed on this page. If you have a different topic in mind to suit your school or group, please let Mel know.

‘The Colour of Feelings’ and ‘Just a Thought’ workshops both explore the therapeutic aspects of creative writing and creative expression – and can often be used as an aid to emotional wellbeing and to raise awareness of mental health issues or to promote discussion of mental health in schools / groups, and Mel’s nature workshops focus on environmental awareness and sustainability.

 

There is often a stigma or misconception surrounding poetry – in that it can be assumed to be ‘boring’ or ‘old fashioned’ and Mel aims to totally dispel this myth, by engaging and inspiring children, young people, and adults to realise poetry is great fun, has a huge social element, and is an important, integral part of modern society.

 

Mel holds full DBS clearance, and insurance. She will work according to the needs of your school or group; whether you require a half hour assembly / presentation, or a full day of back to back workshops in school, and will always endeavour to differentiate according to the needs of the group / individuals in the group - so please advise if you have any additional needs or requirements.

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Mel has fully adapted all her workshops and talks to be held on Zoom or Microsoft Teams due to the current Covid-19 restrictions.

 

Please contact 07581 244393 or melwoodendwriting@gmail.com for inquiries, prices, and bookings for face to face or online workshops and talks.