Star date: 12th July 2020

A LETTER BOX IN BOOTHSTOWN JUST FOR KIDS

Salford poet, Jenny Berry has devised a scheme for kids to get creative during the coronavirus crisis by placing a letterbox outside The Coal & Cotton pub in Boothstown in which they can post poems, stories, pictures and whatever else, while taking out another kid's output.
 
She is also launching a podcast, Word On Our Street, which will feature discussions on Salford's arts scene, as Ian Leslie discovers...

Full details here..

I recently encountered the brilliant Salfordian writer Jenny Berry performing on the online gathering Sunday Assembly. She proved to be an excellent guest poet on the popular, weekly Zoom event, and is a natural and captivating performer. Her poems ooze warmth and hone in on topics including sincerity and motherhood.

Jenny strongly feels creative writing needn't be exclusive and that everyone should have a go, and her passion for writing has resulted in delivering workshops in various settings, including prisons. The sessions promote confidence and provide the skills to communicate emotion in a constructive manner.

With this is mind, Jenny has a great new idea to keep kids engaged with writing and self-expression during lockdown... "Through my prison experience, I know how crucial it is to teach kids the skills to express their feelings" she explains "So, during lockdown I've come up with a concept - it's basically a letter box for kids to post a surprise mail to another kid. You post one and get one back out.

"It will be opened every two weeks to receive one back; it gets kids communicating during this awful time, promotes literacy skills and gets them off their computers" she adds "It will be placed outside The Coal & Cotton, a new pub in Boothstown which is family friendly."

Jenny is also a presenter on Salford City Radio and is now launching a brand-new podcast along with fellow SCR broadcaster (and professional magician) Carl Royle. Entitled The Word On Our Street, the shows aim to discuss our bustling arts scene in a light-hearted and unpretentious manner.

Each week they will highlight interesting events and interview the artists involved. The podcast will tell the stories of everyday artistic people and how they got to where they are now. Jenny states that the purpose of the podcast is to, "drum the message of making the arts accessible to all. I opened up The Roundabout Theatre last year with The Lowry and this is all about getting marginalised communities involved with the arts."

Jenny and Carl are excited by the prospect of introducing newcomers to creative endeavours.

Get your kids involved with writing and post a letter outside The Coal & Cotton in Boothstown.
Coal & Cotton, 44 Leigh Rd, M28 1LR

For more details see Jenny's website – click here

And give the podcast a listen and find out how you can get involved with an accessible and welcoming arts scene. Unlock your inner artist or find out about original happenings. To listen to The Word On Our Street pre launch episode – click here

Sunday Assembly is a free zoom event that features speakers, musicians and poets: Sundays 11-12.  https://www.facebook.com/sunassemblymcr

Words by Ian Leslie