WordLand is a creative writing and spoken word project for young people exploring Ulster-Scots heritage and culture. It will unite young people through their commonly-shared experiences of self and place. WordLand will promote peace and reconciliation between communities and provide new opportunities in lifelong learning. WordLand will run in colleges in counties Derry, Tyrone and Donegal from September 2010. WordLand is lead funded by the Ulster-Scots Agency, Derry City Council, Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council and Donegal County Council.

I Belong Here has so far involved 150 young people attending Letterkenny Youthreach; Donegal Youth Service, Letterkenny; Magh Ena College, Bundoran; Moville Community College; and Errigal College, Letterkenny, in our new life promotion play, creative writing and post-play discussions addressing suicide among young people, particularly young men. I Belong Here has also been presented to health promoters, college principals and teaching staff at training events hosted by the Royal College of Psychiatry, Belfast; Health Service Executive, Donegal; and the Western Health Social Care Trust, Derry City. Written and directed by Patrick Kearney and performed by Patrick McBrearty (voted most promising young actor in Ulster 2010), the project is touring more colleges and youth centres during the autumn and winter. If you are a young people’s service provider and would be interested in hosting this progressive new project, please get in touch. I Belong Here is lead funded by Electric Aid Ireland.

Enterprise, Cultural & Health Projects 2006-2009 ...

Bordering On The Ridiculous involved 400 adults in counties Derry, Tyrone and Donegal storytelling funny stories about courtships, smuggling, marriages, births, family feuds, wakes, land disputes and car breakdowns etc., on or around the border during the last 90 years. The stories document our rich social history for sharing with others through a forthcoming ‘talking book (CD)’ – more details to follow.

Celebrating World Metal Health Day in two consecutive years involved  200 young students in counties Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh writing and performing new prose and poetry to 600 college students, teachers and psychiatrists from across N. Ireland during the Royal College of Psychiatry’s respective annual celebrations of WMHD in Belfast and Coleraine. Celebrating WMHD was lead funded by Western Health Social Care Trust.

The Fag involved six artists in counties Derry and Donegal writing, acting, filming and editing their first collaborative experimental short film which provided a sneak preview of life in small town Ireland in 2050. The Fag won the prestigious Clones Film Festival Award when premiered in Clones and judged by three esteemed filmmakers, among them Kevin Allen - Twin Town, The Big Tease, Cody Banks II. The Fag was lead funded by the Clones Film Festival/Scanbitz and the Arts Council of Irela

Notes involved 300 young students in counties Derry, Tyrone and Donegal in writing and performing prose and poetry on the theme of positive mental health. Notes was lead funded by the Western Health Social Care Trust and the Health Service Executive.

WordFlight involved 3100 young people internationally in writing, publishing and performing prose and poetry on the themes of loss and new beginnings. The 4th Centenary of the Flight of the Earls served as a worthy focal point. WordFlight was lead funded by the International Fund for Ireland, Excellence in Cities Britain, Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council and Donegal County Council.

Full details of all our projects are available on request.