“I come from a working class background and went to a comprehensive school. My read knitting patterns and hated writing but she made sure I joined a library when I was six years old. Literacy opened new doors for me. I owe a great debt to those English teachers who encouraged me to extend my reading horizons, to think I could write poetry that others might want to hear, and to go to university – the first person in my family to do so.
“In my work as an English teacher, poet, teacher educator and researcher, I am committed to enabling people to read, write, listen and engage in visual and performance experiences of all kinds. I was one of the founding members of the Nottingham Writers’ Studio, and am on the regional advisory board of writing charity First Story. Through my research work I have seen first-hand how spoken word, writing and performance in and after school can change lives. When young people are given the chance to work with successful authors, they can be inspired to read or create for themselves.
“Literacy is a key focus for Nottingham. The newly formed UNESCO Literature and Literacy Working Group draws on experts from education, literacy, library and creative arts in education backgrounds. We had our introductory meeting recently and have been tasked with identifying projects and events that could contribute something distinctive and inclusive to the city’s literacy work. We are determined to focus on literacy in its broadest sense, believing that it is essential to give people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to enrich and empower their lives through words.”
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