2025 saw four poets and authors visit five schools across Swadlincote. The feedback from students and staff was phenomenal.

‘Sophie was great- students really enjoyed and benefited from their visit. It was great to see students being encouraged to be creative and working collaboratively to construct narratives. It was particularly lovely to hear Sophie sharing their career choices and talking through the different stepping stones that led to them becoming a writer’.

- Lucy Brown, Granville Academy

Thank you so much for all your hard work on this event. We wouldn't have been able to afford it and it has had such a positive impact on our staff and children’.

- Holly Mapp, Albert Village Primary School

‘Rob’s visit was absolutely fantastic! The children really enjoyed his sessions—he was incredibly engaging and spent a great deal of time working with them. They were captivated by his stories and enthusiasm, and it was wonderful to see their creativity sparked during the workshops’.

- Louisa Carrington, Blackfordby Primary School

We know that these visits have a positive and lasting impact on engaging children and young people with literacy so our plans for 2026 aim to fund a poet, author, writer or illustrators into EVERY infant and primary school in our local area.