A Life Written
Delivered in two cohorts, this programme uses memoir and life writing to support older people, asylum seekers and refugees to share their stories, build confidence and connect with others. Run in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University, each cohort publishes a collective anthology and celebrates its achievements through a showcase for friends and family.
Drop-in & Write
Our drop-in and write sessions are designed specifically for your local residents aged 60+. A facilitator will be on hand to offer prompts and encouragement, but you’re welcome to work on your own project or idea. Tea and coffee will be provided, along with scheduled breaks to socialise and share stories.
Savour & Share
This project for participants aged 70–90 was designed to foster community, storytelling, and creative expression through the universal language of food.
Story Makers
Blending historical research with creative practice, Story Makers is a 12-week journey into the history of Dragon Hall and King Street in Norwich. Participants delve into archival sources, uncovering traces of lives and stories from the past, and transform them into imaginative, personal and finely crafted creative works. The project is made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Stories From the Quarter
Stories from the Quarter explores our city’s medieval quarter and the stories of its local residents. Using existing and new collections of oral histories as a starting point, school children and residents from Norfolk’s thriving Bengali and Sylheti-speaking communities are taken on a journey of discovery and intrigue into the vibrant and diverse communities that have lived and worked on King St, Magdalen St and surrounding areas.
We work together with numerous partners who support refugees, asylum seekers and migrants to design writing and storytelling workshops, alongside drop-in activities for children, young people, and families. These promote cross-cultural integration and awareness, to introduce participants to each other, and provide a platform for individuals build confidence and skills using stories and language.
We work with and for communities to develop and encourage a creative relationship with books, words and ideas. We believe that a life lived with words leads to greater confidence, better mental wellbeing, enhanced connection and a more involved sense of community.
Community and people are a huge part of Dragon Hall’s story – from the medieval merchant traders to the Victorian slum dwellers, to varied present day writers, visitors and participants today. As Norwich’s Literature House, Dragon Hall is a welcoming space where people can meet and engage in creative activity that is relevant and meaningful to their lives.
We create opportunities to hear and share stories – of those who lived in Dragon Hall throughout its history, and from those who will walk through its doors today and tomorrow.
Our approach
We work closely with and for our local communities to build engaging, creative programmes, with storytelling and story-making at their heart. Priority groups are children, young people and families, older people, and migration-experienced communities.
Operating from Dragon Hall, settings across the city and via online, we deliver a range of programmes devised in collaboration with participants, with their priorities at the forefront.
Sometimes these activities are aimed at a specific group across several weeks (A Life Written). Sometimes they include drop-in activities and serve a broader community (Stories from the Quarter, collaborations with New Routes, and Stepping Into Dragon Hall).
Whatever the format and whoever the participants, these activities always celebrate and explore writing as a vehicle for wellbeing, enjoyment, connection, confidence-building, and pleasure.
NCW has been awarded Place of Sanctuary status in recognition of its dedication to supporting individuals fleeing violence and persecution. This prestigious designation underscores our commitment to creating a safe, inclusive, and creative space for all members of the community.
Children, young people & communities fund
You will help people of all ages discover and share their stories through workshops, outreach in schools, and more.
Our Learning & Participation work is supported by a range of supporters through grants and donations, which we are incredibly grateful for. This has included Stories from the Quarter, Stepping into Dragon Hall, Stories Uncovered, supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.
Our work with local residents is currently supported by the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Home Instead Charities (Reg 1156700), Garfield Weston Foundation, The Limbourne Trust, Norfolk Community Foundation through the Connecting Older People Fund, Norwich Consolidated Charitieis & WG Edwards Charitable Foundation.
Past supporters include Anglia Ruskin University, East of England Coop Community Cares Fund, The Linbury Trust and Simon Gibson Charitable Trust.
With thanks to Age UK Norwich.
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