A Life Written, delivered in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), creates life-writing workshops for the over 70s.
Initiated by ARU’s Tory Young, Associate Professor of English Literature, and delivered in partnership with NCW with Age UK Norwich support, this programme uses memoir and life writing to build confidence and foster connection through a series of writing workshops. By involving students from ARU, intergenerational engagement is encouraged and supported. The cohort works towards publication of an anthology and hosts a showcase of their work for friends and family.
The further aims of the project, to form writing communities and combat loneliness, became even more important when the workshops finally ran in Autumn 2021, supported by ARU undergraduate students, following COVID lockdowns and isolation. Demand for the programme was huge, with all the places filled in less than 24 hours, and author Kit de Waal, after seeing them advertised on Twitter, offered travel subsidies for those who could not otherwise afford to attend.
On initiating the project, Tory said:
‘Before the pandemic, I was concerned by the media’s polarising stereotypes which figured the old as either reactionary and wealthy home-owners or conversely a burden on those in work; millennials, on the other hand, were self-absorbed moaners.
‘I wanted to do something to bring these groups together to talk to, learn about and learn from each other. I have always loved reading autobiographies and am fascinated by the ability of writing to prompt long forgotten memories.’
Upcoming ‘A Life Written’ courses
A Life Written with Dominique De-Light (10-week course)
Are you age 70+ (or know someone who is) and would like to develop the skills to tell your life story?
Tuesday 16 April