Annual Fund
We are pleased to announce that the Annual Fund is open for a second round of applications for 2018.
To apply please read the full guidelines here and download the following documents:
How do I apply?
Download and fill out our application form and read our terms and conditions for the grant and email it to info@literatureworks.org.uk
Please note: we only accept applications to the Literature Works Annual Fund made via the application form and email submission process.
When do I apply?
There will be two opportunities to apply to Literature Works Annual Fund in 2018.
Round 1: Open Friday 19th January 2018 closing date Friday, 8 June 2018 midday: decision: Monday 25 June 2018
Round 2: Open Monday 2nd July 2018 closing date Friday, 7 December 2018 midday: decision: Friday 21 December 2018
Please note: Your activity needs to be completed within 6 months of receipt of grant funds.
Since 2013 our Annual Fund has funded 48 projects for organisations and individuals across the South West of England.
The health and social benefits of engaging with reading and creative writing are proven. For some, access to literature is obvious and easy; for others the benefits remains out of reach, behind barriers of low income, language, location, or social isolation.
Activities we have funded include small and start-up literature festivals, book projects for children and young adults, theatre writing events, cultural reading activities for vulnerable older people and their carers, community engagement projects and talking newspapers.
Over three years our funded activities have engaged over 39,000 members of the public, working with over 200 partner organisations and over 150 writers to take reading and writing out into the community.
We have invested £21,070, triggering match funding of £44,672 from partners, sponsorship and donations – triple the initial funding to an overall investment of £65,742 achieved by applicants.
The Annual Fund widens access to literature and creative writing, particularly amongst people in our region who would otherwise miss out. We have provided small grants (up to £500) to organisations which can help their communities enjoy such benefits.
We have funded literature activity in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire Bristol, Bournemouth and Hampshire.
But we cannot continue to do this without your financial support.
To help us continue our good work. Please consider donating or fundraising on our behalf and enriching the lives of local people.
Our Funding in Action
Since reopening the Annual Fund early in 2018, we have awarded 6 Annual Fund grants to community based literature projects across the region. Of the six projects selected, four are aimed at children and young people as a target audience and three are hosted within the region’s library service.
The projects span the region geographically with successful round one applicants based in Cornwall, Exeter, Somerset, Bristol and Bournemouth.
Here’s a bit more about them:
St Austell Library, Bristol Libraries and Somerset Libraries
Each library received a grant for ‘Tales of Mischief and Mayhem’, a series of storytelling sessions for children with international storyteller, Cassandra Wye. The sessions tie in with this year’s libraries’ ‘Summer Reading Challenge’ which is themed around the Beano and mischief.
Here’s what the libraries say about how these grants will benefit the local communities:
“One in four children in Bristol live in poverty. ‘Tales of Mischief, Magic – and a little bit of Mayhem’ will be a wonderful experience and bring life to our unique library space. ”
West Howe Community Enterprises in Bournemouth
have received a grant for ‘Letters to Myself’, an inter-generational creative writing project for local residents, working specifically with young carers. Through workshops and one-to-one sessions, participants will explore creative writing through the drafting and editing of letters to their future or past selves.
Speaking of the impact of the grant on the project, West Howe Community Enterprises said:
“The Literature Works fund will enable members of the community to engage creatively with their experience of life. It will allow people to develop their voices through an appreciation of literature and their own creative writing. […] West Howe has low literacy rates and the grant has enabled us to introduce new ways of reading and enjoying literature, as well as broadening our engagement with the arts.”
Misfits Theatre Company in Bristol
received a grant for ‘Caged Poets’, a series of 12 weekly poetry sessions run by a professional creative writer and an illustrator. Through the workshops, this group led by people with learning difficulties will explore self-expression and produce their own poetry.
Misfits Theatre said that the grant will allow them to continue to provide poetry sessions in their community. Here’s what one of the session attendees had to say about why the workshops are important:
“This group [allows us] to show people our work about self-respect, about who we are, about our learning disabilities. – This is me – a poet!”
ExCite Poetry in Exeter
have received a grant for a reading in memory of Alex Cluness, one of the founders of the festival and influential figure in literature development in the south west. The noted poets Rachael Boast and Fiona Benson will read from their own work, as well as reading some of Alex’s work.
ExCite Poetry Festival said:
“With generous support from Literature Works we have been able to organise the programme and the venue for a commemorative event celebrating the work of Alex Cluness, festival inaugurator and lynch-pin of arts activity in the south west. We are grateful for the opportunity to put on an event close to our hearts which we hope to establish as a fixture in future Festival programme-making.”
Our Funding in Full
Story Writing
Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education
Literature Works supported pupils at Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education to write stories inspired by the collection at Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum.
Young Writers
Plymouth Libraries
“As a writer, it is a marvellous experience to pass on the knowledge I have gleaned over many years to young writers. The fact that there is no charge allows young people from diverse backgrounds to participate. Seeing them grow as writers and witnessing their burgeoning confidence has been a privilege and a joy. They are a credit to themselves and this wonderful city!”
Writing & Storytelling Workshops
DAISI
Literature Works helped DAISI to deliver writing and storytelling workshops for temporary excluded young people in Exeter.
Meet the Local Author
Gloucestershire Libraries
“Extremely grateful for support for this event, both events were successful and participants really enjoyed meeting the authors, some were big fans and bought several books from the bookshop for signing and many people used the opportunity to visit the library and borrow the authors books from the displays.”
Young Writer Workshop
Bath Festivals
Literature Works supported Bath Festivals with £500 towards the cost of a Young Writer Workshop for 13-18 year olds.
Late Night Literature
Ignite Festival
“As a writer, it is a marvellous experience to pass on the knowledge I have gleaned over many years to young writers. The fact that there is no charge allows young people from diverse backgrounds to participate. Seeing them grow as writers and witnessing their burgeoning confidence has been a privilege and a joy. They are a credit to themselves and this wonderful city!”
West Side HERstory
Trinity Community Arts, Bristol
“We have been able to see not only the participants’ confidence and self-esteem grow but also the tutor’s. All of them have worked together and consider the project a life changing experience.”
Literary Festival
Southampton Festivals
In 2015, Literature Works funding helped build a programme of writer events in Southampton.
Cultural Reading Activities
Dorset Library Services
Literature Works supported Dorset Libraries to deliver a series of Cultural Reading activities for vulnerable older people and their carers.
Creative Writing Events
Yeovil College
As a follow up to an event during the Reading Passport project, Literature Works supported Yeovil College with the cost of creative writing events.
Schools Visits
Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival
“An award from Literature Works’ ‘Grass Roots’ Fund enabled us to fund a poet to work in the local community around the time of the festival and helped us to secure an ACE grant. Such pots of small funding are vital in enabling local, community-based events to happen. We can’t praise the ‘Grass Roots’ concept enough.”
South Dorset Ridgeway Literature Project
Artsreach
“South Dorset Ridgeway literature project which Literature Works kindly supported…has exceeded our expectations, building well for the future…Our dealings with Literature Works were excellent and very clear, thank you”
- Yeovil College: Creative Writing Events
- Thread, Marlborough: Creative Writing for Class 1 children
- Somervale School, Midsomer Norton: Author Visit to school
- Southampton Festivals: Literary Festival Events
- Appledore Book Festival: Reading Workshops
- Dreadnought South West: Teignmouth Writing Workshops
- Phonic FM: Science Fiction Convention for Authors, Actors & Musicians
- Dorset Library Services: Cultural Reading activities for vulnerable older people and their carers
- Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education: Student story workshop inspired by RAMM’s collection
- Dawlish & Teignmouth Area Talking Newspaper: Talking Newspaper
- Little Toller Books in Dorset: Landscape Writing Workshops
- Daisi: Writing and Storytelling Workshops in Exeter for temporary excluded young people
- Top Floor Poets in Ashburton: Launch Event Reading
- Penzance Literary Festival: Advanced Writing Workshops
- OrganicARTS in Teignbridge: Creative Writing Workshops
- Theatre Rush, Exeter: Story Exchange Workshops
- Words in Air: Meeting with Forward Arts
- Artreach: Local heritage and literature exploration
- Charles Causley Festival : Author Event
- North Prospect Community Learning Ltd: Plymouth Bookclub
- The Poetree Cornwall: Public Poetry Performance
- Late Night Literature at the Ignite Festival in Exeter: Live Literature Events
- Avalanche Books in Bristol: Poetry Workshops
- SALSA: St Austell Childrens’ Summer Reading Challenge
- Take Art Somerset: Spoken Word Project
- The Vital Spark, Liskeard: Literature Workshops and activities
- Moonlight Sonata: Postwar Research
- Excite Poetry in Exeter: WWI Writing Workshops
- Paignton Theatre: Writing Events
- Blue Gate Poets Swindon :Poetry Readings and Events for the elderly community and the young
- Chudleigh Writers Circle: Chudleigh Literature Festival 2014
- Writer a Children’s Book: Bristol Workshop for unemployed adults to write childrens’ books
- Poetry Teignmouth: Poetry Workshops
- Taunton Women’s Forum: Young Writers Group for 10-16 year olds for the inclusion of non-native speakers of English
- Looe Literature Festival: Festival Events
- Sixth Sense Swindon: Event to promote community cohesion by sharing folk tales
- Trinity Community Arts Bristol: Creative Writing Workshops for vulnerable women
- Cotswold World Centre Stroud: Launch of Centre – a Live Literary Event showcasing Gloucester-based writers
- How to write a Novel: A Totnes-based Creative Writing Workshop
- StoryWorld in Crediton: Creative Writing Class
- Cullompton Loves Books in Cullompton: supporting a Festival of author and illustrator events
- Gloucestershire Library Tewkesbury: Meet the Author: Talk/Q & A
- Aspiring Writers: A Plymouth Creative Writing Workshop
- Plymouth Writing Squad: Plymouth Young Writers Group for 12-15 year olds: Creative writing activities
- Bristol Pound: Creative Writing Workshop
- Bath Festivals: Young Writer Workshop for 13-18 year olds
- Chippenham Library: 6 week Book Project 9-11 year olds
- Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival: Poet visits to local schools
How to donate to or fundraise for Literature Works Annual Fund
We are seeking to raise £20,000 to enable us to continue to award small grants to organisations which are expert in delivering the benefits of reading and creative writing to otherwise excluded groups.
Your kind donation is vital to us.
It’s easy to donate a single gift or – if you possibly can – a small regular gift on a monthly or annual basis.
We will keep you informed of how your donation will be invested in the Fund and the kinds of grants we will be able to award across the South West.
But there’s another way you can contribute to Literature Works Annual Fund ...
Why not sign up for a sporting challenge and get yourself sponsored on our behalf? It’s a great way of getting into training and keeping fit too!
You can sign up to run, cycle, walk, swim, skydive on behalf of the Literature Works Annual Fund. The sponsorship you raise will go straight towards the grants we can make to help enable more people in our region benefit from reading and creative writing. You can sign up for any Open Challenge, simply inform the organiser that you want to raise funds for Literature Works and give them our details and it’s plain sailing from there.
Or simply plan your own event such as a Book Club coffee morning, a Book sale, Bake Sale, Raffle, Tea Party. You just need to register your event with us by getting in touch and we can send you sponsorship forms, collections tins and other material to help publicise your event.