On April 1st, Barnsley Academy in Kendray proudly hosted the launch event for Blue Monday, an anthology showcasing the work of twelve talented young writers aged 13–15. The event marked the culmination of a four-month creative writing residency in partnership with Barnsley Civic, led by award-winning author and screenwriter Nik Perring.
Throughout the residency, the young people attended weekly workshops, exploring a range of writing styles and genres under Nik’s expert guidance. As part of the experience, the young writers submitted pieces for consideration in the final publication. Selected works underwent a professional editing process, giving the students a valuable insight into the journey from first draft to published author.
On Tuesday 1st April, friends, family, faculty members, and peers gathered at Barnsley Academy to celebrate the official launch of Blue Monday. The young authors took to the stage to read excerpts from their work, showcasing the incredible talent and creativity nurtured throughout the project.
Nik Perring was joined at the event by Barnsley Civic’s Community Engagement Manager Jason White. Together, they lead Barnsley Young Writers, a writing group for young people aged 14–19 with a passion for words, which meets at Barnsley Civic on Friday evenings.
The residency was made possible thanks to support from the Hays Travel Foundation, helping to give young people across Barnsley new opportunities to express themselves creatively.
Copies of Blue Monday are now available for purchase at Barnsley Civic and can also be read in Barnsley Civic’s Zine Library.
