The creativity and talent of young writers was celebrated in style at Belmont Library as children from a local creative writing club showcased their achievements in a joyful end-of-year event.
The club, led by author and Writer-in-Residence Rachel Rivers Porter at the Durham County Council library, has been inspirational for children aged nine to eleven throughout the year.
The celebration was attended by Durham County Councillors, Lesley Mavin and Eric Mavin, who generously funded the initiative through the Belmont Parish Local Network and their Neighbourhood Budgets to The Friends of Belmont Library. Families joined in the festivities, which included interactive storytelling games such as domino runs, to illustrate story structure, and fast-paced “story starter” challenges.
The room buzzed with excitement as both children and adults shared their imaginative tales.
- “I grew more confident as a writer. I came every month because of how fun it was.”
- “I have learned more about myself.”
- “Amazed by my imagination.”
- “I like writing now!
A vibrant display of the children’s work featured heartfelt reflections on their growth as writers:
A touching moment came when Katy Tallentire, aged 10, presented a bouquet to Rachel Rivers Porter on behalf of the children’s group and the Friends of Belmont Library, who originally envisioned the club and reached out to the councillors to support it.
Katy shared: “This club has really impacted me as a writer because I have learned more about emotion, characters and types of stories and I have learned much more vocabulary. This club has inspired me to write more than I used to.”
Cllr Lyndsey Fox, Durham County Council Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “It’s lovely to see neighbourhood budgets being used to inspire younger generations with this writing club. The children’s testimonials demonstrate what a positive impact these community projects can have.