#Bankfest is a writing festival which celebrates fiction and non-fiction, for the benefit of pupils from local secondary schools: Sir John Colfox School, Beaminster School and Budmouth Academy. The festival exists to further The Bank of Dreams and Nightmares’ provision in Dorset by creating opportunities for pupils living in areas experiencing rural disadvantage to take part in a large, cultural event; to be introduced to a broad range of writers; to experience being part of the production of a festival; to write with professional writers; and to learn about the career options available to those who are good with words.

The Democratic Children’s Republic of Bridport will live on, so please watch this space for more updates.

We worked with Elliot Millson to create a film to celebrate the formation of our new republic and you can watch the whole film on the link below.

resonate

We invite young writers from across Dorset who may not normally have their voices heard, to join us with a professional poet to create spoken word pieces to be performed at an event in Bridport.

WHERE STORIES COME ALIVE!

We are a registered charity offering FREE creative story writing workshops to under resourced children aged from 7-18 in West Dorset.

Bank your stories with us and they will grow interest.

Every story deposited in the Bank of Dreams and Nightmares gets interest. Like any good bank we'll help your instalment grow and grow. We'll give it eyes and ears to see and hear it, words to appreciate it and applause to motivate it on. So believe in what's in your head, believe in what you can create, believe in your dreams and nightmares.

We have many wonderful books available, each written by young writers from schools in West Dorset. Not only do you get an enjoyable read, but also every penny from the sale goes directly back into the charity to provide more FREE workshops to young writers. Click HERE to order.

Our publications

Our Partners / funders / supporters

Our method

  • Children in charge

    We allow learners’ imaginations to take the lead and put young people at the centre of all our programmes.

  • Professional input

    From poets to playwrights, story makers to speechwriters, all our programmes are devised and delivered by professional writers and practitioners.

  • Small group mentoring

    Our specially trained volunteer mentors provide individual support for young writers. All our volunteers are DBS checked and trained in safeguarding procedures.

  • Educational partners

    We work in partnership with schools and teachers in West Dorset to help get their students buzzing about learning.

  • Purposeful outcomes

    We’re always working towards sharing, publishing or producing real work and partnering with organisations such as the BBC and UK Parliament to make this happen.

  • Community

    We create a safe and inspiring space where creativity can flourish and young people feel proud to explore their identities and localities through writing.

 What some of our customers are saying:

Stuff & Nonsense

We’ve joined forces with creative drama dynamos Niki McCretton and Jenny Harrold, to enlist the help of Year 4 children to build a brand new theatre production of the Three Little Pigs, which will premier at Poole’s Lighthouse Theatre late in 2023.