Last week saw the launch party for the latest Bank of Dreams and Nightmares publication written by some amazingly talented young writers . ‘Food, Glorious Food’ is a wonderful celebration of the food we love and the memories we make while we’re preparing it.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you tried to bring your dog back from the dead, but ended up accidentally bringing your great aunt back instead? Us too! And apparently we’re not alone. A team of ridiculously talented writers from the local schools around Dorset wrote that very story this week - Toenail and Aunt.

Have you ever battled a six foot blade of grass or tried to befriend a pig who might eat you? Well thanks to the incredible imaginations of the Key Stage 2 classes at The Prince of Wales First School, now you don’t have to!

We had a fantastic morning at Broadwindsor Primary School. Working with some extremely talented KS2 writers, we tried to solve the mystery of who had broken into our bank vault and stolen a story from the Bank Manager’s own daughter!

“My favourite thing is that I learn so much! At the moment I am involved with the Colfox Film Campaign and Beaminster School anthology workshops and I find it fascinating that, as much as the kids are learning, I am learning from them.” 

Some fantastic intergenerational connections were being made as our Pen Pals project culminated in a meet and greet between the young writers and their correspondents from our local community of residential homes.

Nick shares his Desert Island Discs with Neil Charleton on Lyme Bay Radio

The legends are beginning to emerge! Talented young authors from Beaminster School have begun writing stories based on the landscape around them. Today we looked at how to immerse a reader in the author’s world. We tried to capture what it really felt like to be in the locations of our tales.

With stories and articles coming thick and fast for our next edition, this week the News Crew interviewed author, TV presenter and comedian, David Walliams. He opened up about his writing process, the importance of diversity in stories and whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza!

Come and see the beaver enclosure with us! With the help of Elliot Milson, a superb local filmmaker, we visited Slape Manor, where they have successfully re-introduced wild Beavers to their land. https://vimeo.com/820959168/b69bbb2fe1

Extraordinary stories from unfeasibly talented writers! The young authors from Axe Valley Academy are done with their tales. Dark, funny, surreal and playful the stories are in the can!

Our press gang headed out to Slape Manor this week to investigate the ‘rewilding’ work that’s been going on and to try to spot the reclusive beavers that are being re-introduced to the environment.

Keep an eye out for our feature article in our next issue of ‘What’s Going On?’

The ridiculously talented authors from Axe Valley Academy have been working hard and creating extraordinary stories. We’re editing and improving them as we speak and we can’t wait to unveil them to the reading public.

One rainy evening

volunteers meet at the bank

for tea and haikus.

Those incredible storysmiths from Salway Ash Primary School were at it again this week. We got to work with Badger Class on a superb story involving Billy, our deaf hero and his best friend NoIdea. It is ‘Bring-your-pet-to-school-day’ when Billy is very nearly abducted by mysterious Time Stick!

Our latest story making workshop with the amazing writers from Membury and Mrs Ethelstone’s Primary Schools produced this pocket epic! Chunky Jo, one of the most successful Sumo wrestlers of her generation, dreams of becoming an elephant…

The inventive Dr Jimmy,A.K.A Marvin the Gwock, is working hard on his inventions. Together with his lab assistant and best friend Moley (Gwock and Moley, geddit?!) they discover a mysterious orb. Our story follows their attempts to open the orb and uncover it’s surprising and extremely stinky secrets.

We had a great time working with the super-talented young authors of Jackdaw Class at Kilmington Primary School. They came up with the amazing, epic and surreal story of Skellie, a heroic young skeleton, wrongly accused of a terrible crime! Will she be able to escape the evil clutches of Fiery the Dragon and his team of bone-loving tigers?

We had a brilliant day working with the awesome Year 5s from Salway Ash Primary School yesterday as they started a correspondence project with some of our local residential care homes.

Alex Green, volunteer coordinator spoke to Hester Schofield who has been named our March Featured Volunteer.