Ethan is ten years old. He likes writing, chemistry, drama, and messing about. Ethan hates getting dirty. His favourite singer is Cher Lloyd. Sarah is eleven years old and she loves doing creative writing. She also loves reading lots of books. She loves watching Family Guy, American Dad, South Park, and the Simpsons. She also loves art and The Beatles. She would either like to be a teacher, artist, or astrologist. Kaitlin goes to Glyn-Gaer Primary School. She loves horse riding and is really good at it. She wants to be a horse rider when she is older. Alex is thirteen years old and he does not like writing. He only likes it if he’s inspired. He does like music, rugby, and cricket. His favourite subjects Art, DT and Welsh. Alex wants to be a teacher when he grows up. He likes the smell of cinnamon and even tried the cinnamon challenge – but failed! Keira is ten years old. She loves doing art and games. She also likes football and sports. When she grows up she wants to be a painter. Lucy is ten years old. She likes playing the guitar and recorder and reading a lot. She would like to be an artist or singer, as long as people know who she is. She has lived in Treharris most of her life and likes all her family. Cassidy is ten years old and loves Monster High. She grew up in Merthyr and wants to be a comedian. She is terrified of clowns. Jack is six years old and lives in Treharris. He has recently started playing football and is looking to be a great player. He enjoys riding his bike and playing in his street with his friends. Tayah is eleven and lives in Dowlais. She is looking forward to going to comp in September. Tayah does taekwondo in Rhydycar and is enjoying learning self-defence. Megan is nine years old and is from Troedyrhiw. She plays football for her school and really loves animals. One of her favourite books is Black Beauty. Olivia is eight years old. She lives in Treharris and attends Edwardsville primary school. We have recently found out that she is a good shot on the coconut shy. Lily is six years old and lives in Treharris. She is one of the youngest members of the group. She attends Edwardsville Primary school and has lots of friends. Christina Thatcher is a graduate of the Teaching and Practice of Creative Writing MA program at Cardiff University. While studying, she fell in love with Wales and now runs creative writing workshops for at-risk and vulnerable people as a freelance writer and educator. Her work has recently been published in a variety of literary magazines and journals including The London Magazine, The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts, and Neon Literary Magazine. In addition to teaching, she is currently attempting to compile her latest poems into a respectable chapbook and finish her first short story collection.
reports from fairytale land
Bear’s Broken Blonde
“Little gold, the robber, she’s cute but dangerous. Watch out if you’re a bear! Ge t away in the flash of your life. Ever so hungry she entered the bear’s house. I would rather go to th e hunger games than hurt three bear’s hearts.” Far away on a forest road a little girl called Goldilocks stood. She had robbed the po rridge of three bears making them lose their trust in the village. “It’s the big bad wolf all over again!” said Mommy bear. “What did I do?” said the Big Bad Wolf. This tragic scene happened on the 22nd of May 2012. Goldilocks was later tracked down by bear police. Bear police issued a statemen t, “She was a victim of crime! It’s her 15th robbery.” She was fined 100 porridges. “I should have entered the hu nger games,” commented Goldilocks. “If she comes back, she’s din ner,” shouted the bears. “She broke my chair,” cried Baby Bear. By: Lucy Garbett (Age 10)
Brave
r i a L s ’ r a e B s e l g r u B ke into the e Blond oldilocks, bro
orious G t o n e h t e b he area for o t t in d e n t w c o e n p k s ll u blonde, s n to us.” e on. She is we p o p n a r h e t o f t a An unknown it y a er expected home on Frid v e ’s n r I a “ e , is outbreak B h id t a e s e o r t r a th d e n B e y n must put a s and Momm e w , e ls e e n similar crime ppen to anyo hased off the offender. a h is hopped h t c t s le a w c lf o o h W “Don’t w the Big Bad Daddy Bear e c id in a s s n ,” w e o im d r of c e little pigs. s gone e a r h h t d n e h la t f le o a t f y, to the relie r Crime in Fair a e y t s la r Cutte by the Wood (Age 10) s n a v E a ir e By: K
Diary of My 10th Birthday Party On the 27th of March 2012, it was my birthday. I had a Hollywood party. Mum and me bought lots of movie posters, Hollywood banners, and cut action clappers. When all my friends came we did a quick show and a mini-Brit awards. My mam brought fake Oscar trophies and Brit award trophies. We had kebabs and non-alcoholic Champagne. It was my favourite birthday party. By: Ethan Morgan (Age 10) and Lili Hughes (Age 6)
Nefra Nevra De Nice is an Egyptian princess. She is three years older than her sister Cleo De Nice. She is an absolutely horrible person but has a cute pet called Azum. Her pet is a beetle. She lives in a pyramid. Her nickname is Bossy boots. Also, she acts like a spoilt brat. She sometimes has grapes when someone is feeding them to her. Cassidy Jones (Age 10)
When I was Young When I was young I used to live in a flat with Jack, my brother, Maria, my mam, and my Step Dad. We also had a little dog called Missy. We had to leave her out in the front garden in her kennel. I woke up one morning and she was gone! I cried and cried all day until it was time for bed. Keira Evans (Age 10)
My Best Friend My best friend is called Owen Carrol. We met at nursery thymes when I was three. We are now in Year One and are still best friends. He’s got brown flat hair, his eyes are brown, not like mine, mine are green-y blue. I go over to play at Owen’s house and I like it when we sleep over at the weekend. We like watching transformers and play football at the front of our house. Sometimes we argue over toys that we both want to play with. Me and my best friend Owen will be friends for a long time. Jack (Age 6)
Can You Guess What I Am? I have a big castle that is now a museum, I used to be a family home, But now I’m a place for families to visit, And for people who get married to start new ones.
Is It Worth It?
I have two different parks and one is adventure, And one is water, Lots of families come and play, They like to eat picnics on the grass, People make new friends.
As I walk into the cage, My heart skips a beat But that is a problem That I must defeat.
In the summer I have a circus, In the autumn I have a fair, On bonfire night I have fireworks, So I am fun all year.
As I walk through the mines, Darkness descends upon me, But one flame to a candle, Can make us all see.
By: Bethany Fleming (Age 10)
My Big Surprise There is a kitten in my street. It lives in my friend’s house. She is so fluffy and she has green eyes. She plays with all her toys and her favorite is her mouse.
My lungs struggle, To breath in the air, Life down here, Is far from fair. For the price to pay, Is it worth it?
I came back from school one day And heard a meow. I looked in a box on my street There was a kitten inside and I said wow!
By: Sarah Llewellyn (Age 11)
I was so surprised I forgot it was my birthday! So I said “thanks you guys.” Now my kitten plays with me all the time. She sleeps with me every night. Kallie Fleming (Age 8)
Guess which Animal I am I have orange fur, With black stripes upon it, Sharp teeth and claws Upon my hairy paws. I am an endangered species, With my population decreasing, Only six species of us But nobody makes a fuss. I am a carnivore, I eat lots of meat, Small ones, or big ones, It doesn’t matter much to me. By: Sarah Llewellyn (Age 11)
Nightmare First day in secondary school. Confusion, teachers, names, classes, lessons, home work all to remember. Places, rules, dos and don’ts, time table blurs. People rushing, bell ringing I get a headache. Classes that you thought you were in, corridors that you thought you went down. Dinner, what to have? Secondary school, don’t go there! By: Alex Williams (Age 13)
Animals Rock!!! -Facts Animals, why are you killing these beautiful creatures? Tell me right now!! What do you know about all animals? Put it under here: ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________
Cats Why are your dogs killing cats? Keep your cats safe. These cats are very small and very delicate. How can you keep these loving animals safe? ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________
Dogs These are loving animals. Bad people, why are you catching these loving animals? Tell me below. If you are reading this article now and are a bad person you should be ashamed of yourself.
Horses
________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________
Whales Whales are mostly from Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa, and the Artic. Whales normally eat shrimp and food like that. Whales have no teeth but they have powerful lungs to suck food in. They are like nurse sharks. What do you like about whales? ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________
Farmers, why are you not feeding these beautiful, amazing animals? There are lots of these animals. What kinds of horses have you seen?
Animals rock, keep them safe! By: Megan Fleming (Age 10) and Olivia Hughes (Age 8)
If I was
Head Te
If I was he longer b ad teacher I w reaks. I ould let kes. w a n In o s s u e t ld h t e n t ad, I’d m ’t make the children ha a k o lo o t p o t ake the ed a et sh have a m sing a them do maths ve here I look him y to the p t a t w o n g r u ic e o w e n et en We ate o a skatin r school. Inste nd dance. I w . pocket. Wh ython but I did not g op y m in y ould e g rink a ad of W n h a pet s a royal p I had mo t m n o e e r g d f ls w , o t h o im in h u d I s ld have got cide ot them. I de d to do research. I them go tead of World W would have e or six fo d iv f w o M r g c a Donalds Ih ars I an will un to the c that day. Silver. He , himself aro d II, I K im s in h p F a e d r C e m w , m a d a o n n , then a great r Frankie I ea n m e h s t t s d u n r in Cardiff. t a e head te e and Ben to my fac by hand. ry thick. H a B c nys. I w y h : e T r tall and ve hen comes right up . a e yah Lew ic m ould be im h d t e d e f is Lewis my arm an he floor. I have to (Age 11 dt ) oes aroun
My
r e v l i S e k First Sna
g e 10) Kaitlin (Ag
acher
Back to Brilliant Music : Cher Lloyd, Want You Back Cher Lloyd’s ‘Want You Back’ is here! It’s her brilliant third track. It is not as good as her first track, ‘Swagger Jagger’, but it made it up to No.1 in the charts. ‘Want You Back’ has got a good beat. Cher sings like a flower and raps like a beast. Cher always has a rapper in her songs. In ‘Want You Back’ she sings with Astro from Agt. She has an album called Sticks and Stones. By: Ethan Morgan (Age 10) and Lili Hughes (Age 6)
ces.
sing pla
nd ve
ctive a
e adje Fill in th
he mis rbs in t
Find out who you are most like. Answer yes or no and follow the arrows.
The Magazine Making Project Imagination Station The Magazine Making Project offered the young people of MTHA youth group fun and interesting workshops focusing on a range of writing and design skills. The writing sessions, coordinated by Glamorgan Gates, supported by MTHA and led by professional writer and freelance tutor Christina Thatcher covered news writing, poetry, prose, features, reviews and puzzle design. The young people involved had the opportunity to explore these different elements of a magazine, put together their own pieces, and share their work by reading aloud. Darren Warner, Creative Director of PLUGGED IN Magazine and Tutor for PLUGGED IN Education led art and design workshops with the young people, during which they came up with ideas and drawings for the design, and learnt about how the final layout of a magazine is compiled. Many thanks to Head 4 Arts for part funding this project, and to Stephens and George for their involvement and printing the final products.
PLUGGED IN Magazine The Independent Voice For Music In Wales, was set up five years ago to address the poor literacy standards in the South Wales Valleys, as well as to address the need for vocational education in the creative industries highlighted by the Welsh Assembly in the Hargreaves Report. PLUGGED IN is a not-forprofit social enterprise with the magazine being produced by volunteers and different groups funding the print run only. In its first year PLUGGED IN was presented with a Red Dragon FM Community Music Award while Gail Griffiths, the managing editor and co-founder of the project, was awarded the Institute of Welsh Affairs Educator of the Year in 2011, which highlighted her pioneering commitment to inspiring education. PLUGGED IN also publishes RAWR, a literacy magazine project and OUR VOICE magazine, an Engagement Gateway funded project, which works with people who would be regarded as on the periphery of society. In 2012 PLUGGED IN was nominated one of the top ten educational projects in the UK by the National Lottery.
Our creative writing and design project – Imagination Station – developed with the aim of enhancing the literacy levels of the young people involved with the project. It was hoped that the project would develop confidence in their abilities to read and write and to encourage them to read more. The project also gave the young people an opportunity to express their individuality through art.
Glamorgan Gates We are a partnership between University of Glamorgan and the Communities First Unit of The Welsh Assembly Government and our name is symbolic of our position as a gateway between community and university. We run a wide range of informal activities within subjects such as the arts, music, language, sports and employability skills. We also offer support into further learning, help improve job prospects, help people to become self employed, and work towards improving the confidence and wellbeing of participants.
MTHA Youth Project The MTHA Youth Inclusion and Development Project targets young people in and around the Merthyr Tydfil area, in particular those young people living within our properties. The project aims to support young people in accessing information and enhancing the quality of leisure time through positive activities and programmes.
The Stephens & George Centenary Charitable Trust Established as the S&G Print Group celebrates their Centenary this year, our Trust is dedicated to improving the lives and futures of young people through the immense power of literacy. With nearly a fifth of Welsh pupils entering secondary schools without the expected levels of literacy, our Trust sees a real and desperate need to provide young people with the skills and experience that will open the door to a bright and successful future. We aim to support the ideas and passions of young people with enthusiasm and understanding as well as practical solutions. To get involved, please contact us on 01685 352043 or email Helen Hughes on Helen.hughes@stephensandgeorge.co.uk
Lisa Derrick - Informal Learning Coordinator, Glamorgan Gates Project Christina Thatcher - Professional Writer and Freelance Tutor Bethan Thomas - Youth Inclusion and Development Officer , Merthyr Housing Association Nicola Garbett - Tenant and Community Development Officer, Merthyr Housing Association Helen Hughes, Coordinator, Stephens & George Charitable Trust David Jones - Project Manager Head 4 Arts Darren Warner - Creative Director & Tutor, PLUGGED IN Magazine & PLUGGED IN Education Mark Jehu - Layout & Post Production Jenna Duggan - Volunteered on the project