National Writing Squad: An Unforgettable Residential for Young Welsh Writers

During one weekend at Tŷ Newydd, the National Writing Centre of Wales, some of Wales’ brightest young writers found themselves swept up in a rare kind of magic – three days filled with creativity, connection, and the quiet thrill of discovering their own voices. The residential formed part of Literature Wales’ new National Writing Squad, a programme nurturing 14 writers aged 16–18 from across Wales.

The writers were selected following an open call-out in autumn 2025. Applicants could write in English, Welsh or bilingually, and didn’t need formal experience, just a passion for storytelling and a commitment to their craft. Find out more about the writers here.

Through a year of workshops, mentorship, and extraordinary creative experiences, the Squad offers young people the space, and the encouragement, to grow into our literary stars of the future.

At Tŷ Newydd, that promise came alive.

Across the weekend, Squad members stepped into a world shaped by imagination: writing challenges that stretched their creativity, walks through the grounds where the landscape became its own kind of storyteller, and one-to-one sessions with inspirational tutors Dr Aiysha Jahan and Megan Angharad Hunter. Their guidance was warm, generous, and transformative, giving each young person the confidence to explore, question, and take risks on the page.

Inside the house’s historic rooms, there were bursts of quiet concentration. Many Squad members spoke of moments where ideas clicked into place – tiny breakthroughs that felt immense.  The weekend culminated in a warm and celebratory open mic evening, where Squad members read their writing aloud, supported by staff, cheered on by tutors, and reassured by the atmosphere of shared creativity.

By the time the weekend drew to a close, the atmosphere had shifted. Suitcases were packed slowly. Conversations lingered. Some young people said they wished they could ‘stay longer’, with one noting that she wanted to stay ‘for a month – perhaps forever’.
In just a few days, strangers had become friends, and a community had formed; one built on trust, creativity, and the empowering knowledge that their words mattered.

This National Writing Squad residential was more than a retreat. It was a turning point. A space where young people felt seen, supported, and inspired, where they left not only as stronger writers, but as part of a growing network shaping the future of literature in Wales.
For many, the weekend at Tŷ Newydd will be remembered as the moment something shifted: a spark, a realisation, or simply the joyful discovery that they are not alone in their passion for storytelling.

This programme is supported by Arts & Business Cymru’s Culture Step Programme and delivered in partnership with Cardiff University’s School of English, Communication and Philosophy.