What is a Squad?

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The Young People’s Writing Squads have been developed over the past decade by Literature Wales in association with the local authorities in Wales. The squads aim to locate gifted writers – in both English and Welsh – in each authority region and introduce them to some of Wales’ leading writers and teachers of writing. Young People’s Writing Squads welcome selected children whose creative writing shows particular ability and promise. Usually this selection has been made by the age of 9 or 10, with head teachers in each authority identifying keen and gifted young writers. Advisors conduct the final selections and each squad of children meets on average three or four times a year (usually on Saturday) for special training sessions with outstanding writers who have the necessary communication skills to work with the young. The aim is to keep each squad together until the end of their schooldays.

Since its beginning in 1996, the first Gwent Squad has been followed by squads from all over Wales. A number of education authorities have more than one squad, working in both Welsh and English. The Squads are increasingly being seen as an important part of the literary scene in Wales. The Hay Festival runs a major series of children’s events with the Young People’s Writing Squad members very much in mind. Literature Wales organizes a range of workshop sessions on The National Eisteddfod maes with leading Welsh language writers. A body of tutors now has experience of working with these talented children, including Francesca Kay, Robert Minhinnick, Jenny Sullivan, Mererid Hopwood, Iwan Llwyd and Ceri Wyn Jones. The Poet Laureate,  Andrew Motion, has worked with the Cardiff Squad and Benjamin Zephaniah has visited the Caerphilly Squad.

Academi’s ACW Beacon Company Award 2008-2010 and Young People's Writing Squads

In October 2008, Academi was awarded a Beacon Company Award by the Arts Council of Wales which secured funding for the development of the Young People’s Writing Squads – a programme already well established across Wales. Literature Wales' Chief Executive Peter Finch said: “Young People’s Writing Squads catch the best we have at an early age and engage them with the world of writing books. They are the future. They need all the encouragement we can give them.”

About the Beacon Company Award

In November 2007, the Welsh Assembly Government allocated £4.5m to be used by the Arts Council of Wales to reward companies or individuals who showed innovation and excellence in the arts. It was a privilege for the Academi to receive one of these Beacon Company Awards in October 2008, which secured funding to develop the Young People Writing Squads. The money will also be utilised to develop a literary tourism programme, including literary bus tours and plaques for significant Welsh writers. Literature Wales will additionally enhance the successful National Poet initiative with its Beacon funding.