W.B. Yeats described being an eduacator as 'Not the filling of the pail, but the lighting of a fire'. These words hold a certain resonance to what being a creative writing facilitator is to me; lighting an inspirational flame in a person's mind and opening a door of creativity and expression. Writing is a life long gift and I am lucky enough to have the joy of facilitating and nourishing this ‘right’ to be creative within some of the young children and adults of today.

After graduating with a BSc Psychology degree in London in 2000, Michelle went on to study a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education. She began her teaching career in Special Education and did so for 5 years, with a keen interest in autism. Since then, Michelle worked as a Year 6 (P7) teacher and SENCO for a further 5years, thoroughly enjoying the challenges of leadership and teaching & learning. Her final teaching post included working as KS2 Leader and Literacy Leader in an outstanding school.

With a rich background in special education and mainstream teaching as well as inspirational leadership, Michelle has a rich tapestry of experience to share. At the end of her teaching career, she was lucky enough to work as a writing moderator for the LEA in Reading, Berkshire. She also a took part in a collaborative-schools writing project for a couple of years with Pie Corbett which aimed to raise standards in writing across Reading.

Michelle is a passionate educator. Her passions lie in inspiring learners to write by immersing them in their learning, motivated by a multi-sensory, exciting and child centred approach. She encourages each child at their level, ultimately empowering them to take ownership and interest in their learning and progress. Michelle is also passionate within the areas of wellbeing and emotional intelligence, using writing and creativity to tap into feelings and the ability for children to express themselves. She has a CPD certificate from Roehampton University in Personal, Social and Health Education.

Michelle began working as a Creative Writing facilitator and poet for The Pushkin Trust, Community Art’s Partnership’s ‘Poetry in Motion’ and Arts Care when she relocated back home to Northern Ireland in 2014. She still works for these organisations as well as growing her own successful business – Ink Wing Academy. Many of the projects Michelle has facilitated have been published or showcased, including poetry in Northern Ireland's Community Arts Partnership’s yearly ‘Poetry in Motion’ anthology and Shared Education publications - Romeo and Juliet, ‘Alike in Dignity’, 2017 and ‘Young Minds, New Futures’, 2016. Visit www.facebook.com/inkwingacademy for a taste of what Michelle provides.

Employer: Arts Care Position: Creative Writer in residence, Hillside Day Centre Dates: Jan – 2017 – March 2018 Duties: Work on a weekly basis with the clients and service users of Hillside Day Centre and First Housing, Strabane. Projects are client- centred and impact positively on the lives of those adults with mental health referrals from the Western Health Board. Current projects have included 10-week projects ‘My story, My chair’ and ‘Beauty’. The first project was an up-cycling and poetry project reflecting mindfulness, calm and their creative selves. The second project got the group out and about in nature where we wrote about the beauty of the nature around us. This was later used as a simile, working towards then writing about our beauty within. Poems will be published in a booklet, along with photography of nature taken by the group. The next project beginning in September will be called ‘A piece of peace’.

Employer: Arts Care Position: Creative Writer, ‘Cartwheel 999’, Altnagelvin Children in Need Dates: August 2017 Duties: • Work with sick and vulnerable children & young people within the health setting of the Children’s Ward of Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry, exploring the theme of ‘Bugalicious’. This included the creation of poetry or imaginative stories, which can be told within the ward to bring creativity, cheer, positivity and a welcome distraction.

Employer: Ink Wing Academy Position: Creative Writer and founder ‘Ink Wing Academy Summer School’ Dates: July - August 2017 Duties: • ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Summer fun! Facilitate, manage, market and lead a Summer School of literacy projects for children within the local area of Castlederg and Omagh. Projects included hands on, inspiring and fun 5-day project at two different locations inspired by J.K Rowling’s film and book. Children explore, create character, setting and poetry as well as delving into persuasive and journalistic language through drama, multi- media and art!

Employer: Ink Wing Academy Position: Creative Writer ‘I’m Magic, You’re Magic’ Dates: July 2017 Duties: Facilitate a fun, inspiring, cross-community 3-day project at Churchtown Community Association for First Steps and Around the Corner Family Centres. Children explore, create through drama, multi- media and art, inspired by the magical animation ‘The Black Hat’ and the book ‘Leon and the place between’.

Employer: Arts Care Position: Creative Writer, 'Home is where the art is…', in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Society Dates: July 2017 Duties: • Write with clients who are suffering with Alzheimer’s Disease and their families in a pilot project that brings the artist into the client’s home. Poetry will be created and ‘caught’ through conversation based on memories and objects in the home with a very gentle and multi-sensory approach.

Employer: Pushkin Trust Position: Creative Writer, ‘Pushkin Pathways’ Dates: May - June 2017 Duties: • Explore the theme of Seamus Heaney’s ‘Floodtide in the Heart’’, with two groups of SEN Secondary School Pupils (Knockavoe and Ardnashee) on the Baronscourt estate, through the medium of poetry, with an emphasis also on the environment.

Employer: The Pushkin Trust Position: Creative Writer, ‘Floodtide in the heart’ Dates: January - June 2017 Duties: • Explore the theme of Heaney’s ’Floodtide in the heart’, with groups of Primary School children at school and on the Baronscourt estate for ‘Pushkin days’, through the medium of poetry, story writing, story-telling and art with an emphasis also on the environment. • Facilitate poetry workshops during 4 days of reflection with teachers and educational professionals, celebrating 30 years of The Pushkin Trust.

Employer: Ink Wing Academy, Killen Primary Position: Creative Writer Dates: March – June 2017 Duties: • Facilitate 2 writing projects throughout KS2 in 10 sessions: Myths and Legends with Yr6/7 and Sentence Surgery & Poetry with Yr5/6. Projects include devices from hands on exploration, discussion, shared and modelled writing and ‘Talk for writing’ strategies sessions as well as use of film and graphic novels to motivate and inspire e.g. The Alchemist’s Letter and, The Arrival by Shaun Tan.

Employer: Ink Wing Academy, Erganagh Primary Position: Creative Writer Dates: March - May 2017 Duties: Facilitate 3 writing projects throughout the whole school: • Yr7/6Poetry and descriptive writing inspired by The Arrival, by Shaun Tan – effective writing through word choice and effective sentence structures, concreting and developing the sentence work begun earlier in the year. • Yr4/5 ‘Flying Machines’ -project includes shared and modelled writing and ‘Talk for writing’ strategies and creative planning. • Yr1-3 Dragonology – exploring vivid description of their own dragon in poetry and writing workshops. All sessions include Talk for Writing

Employer: Pushkin Trust/ Rural Centre for Shared Education Position: Creative Writer and Director Dates: March 2017 Duties: Year 8s from Omagh High School and The Sacred Heart, explored the concept of tolerance and forgiveness through the story of Romeo and Juliet, to introduce the concept of Shared Education and the future Strule Campus to. Students got familiar to Shakespeare’s story through animation and acting. They then retold the story in teams using Snapchat, Text Message or Tableau – bringing the story into the modern day and a world that they could relate to. The final body of work was published to form an A4 booklet. I worked closely with an artist photographer and the graphic designer to ensure the final product represented my vision.

Employer: Ink Wing Academy, Edwards Primary Position: Creative Writer & Director - Shakespeare Shenanigans! Dates: January – March 2017 Duties: Shakespeare Shenanigans – Create and facilitate 3 Shakespeare projects throughout KS2 in 10 sessions each. This project began with a KS2 Shakespeare Day, leading to Yr5 exploring and learning about A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream, Yr6 explored the story of Romeo and Juliet and Yr7, The Tempest. Workshops included drama strategies from the Royal Shakespeare Company as well as my own twist. They included drama techniques to delve into the background, plot and characters. Each story was brought into the modern day with rap, song and modern day re-writing of the script (the Yr7s rewrote part of The Tempest in an ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’ script). My workshops were observed by ETI school inspectors, graded as outstanding. The impact of the project on learning and writing was graded as outstanding too.

Employer: Ink Wing Academy, Phoenix Integrated Primary Position: Creative Writer Dates: December – March 2017 Duties:

Whole school facilitation over 3 months: • Yr6 & 7 took part in Chris Evans’ 500 Word competition. Yr 6 explored Shaun Tan’s The Lost Thing and recreated their own story, inspired by the concept of an imaginary creature who teaches its ‘finder’ something. Yr7s created a suspense story inspired by the short animation, Francis. Smart word choice, sentences for effect and clever planning were the key foci, as well as building characterisation through Dialogue, action and description, all in 500 words! • Yr5 explored the Egyptians ‘Book of the dead’ and artefacts through poetry and a Tomb Raider story opening • Yr3 and 4 explored vivid character and setting description through Dragonology and Monsterology. Music, art and Talk for Writing was used to make this a hands-on, experiential project. • Y1 and 2 explored poetry and Talk for Writing through the 4 Alien Fruit workshops. Music, film and art was also used to immerse the children in their learning.

Employer: Community Arts Partnership, LAVA Project Position: Creative Writer Dates: January - February 2017 Duties: • Worked with the Bulgarian Association and Bulgarian families. Children and adults told and read a variety of different fairy-tales across different cultures to observe the similarities and differences. As a group, they created their own fairy-tale retelling the mothers’ journey from Europe to Ireland. The final piece was a detailed tapestry of pictures 2m x 4m telling their fairy-tale, including words from languages such as Bulgarian, Hungarian, English and Irish.

Employer: Ink Wing Academy, Erganagh Primary Position: Creative Writer Dates: November - December 2016 Duties: Facilitate 3 writing projects throughout the whole school in 6 sessions each: • Sentence Structure Programme with Yr6/7 exploring the 4 different types of sentences, clauses, when to use them for effect and word choices for effect. • Yr4/5 poetry project – group poetry including music and film to motivate • Lily and The Snowman Story writing Yr1-3 included devices from hands on exploration, discussion, shared and modelled writing and ‘Talk for writing’ strategies.

Employer: Community Arts Partnership Position: Poet, ‘Poetry in Motion for Schools’ Dates: November – December 2016 Duties: • Facilitation of 3 poetry workshops each in school - Recarson Primary, Gillygooley PS and Knockavoe Special School: Explore a topic of their choice (Celts, Plantation Canoe and The Rainforest) through poetry – group poetry and individual. Imagination and words were ignited through music, games, pictures and/or film. The outcome was the annual PIMS event at the Ulster Hall where some children perform from each school (or the whole class). Chosen work was published in an anthology.

Employer: Arts Care/ Pushkin Trust Position: Project Co-ordinator, ‘Let the Dance Begin’ Dates: September 2016 – March 2017 Duties: • Co-ordinate a full-scale community arts & well-being project, embracing schools, local businesses and health care settings within the new Derry City and Strabane District Council. Duties include managing Arts provision in each area and individual venue, manage a large budget, contracts, venues and individual needs with regards to each participant and artist involved (consent, evaluations, day to day management), updating the Facebook page, PR and Marketing, communication with the theatre. The outcome will result in a Pop-up Art Gallery showcasing all art work/ writing created, an evening of Performance arts, dance and drama at The Alley Theatre.

Employer: Arts Care Position: Creative Writer, ‘Cartwheel 999’, Altnagelvin Children in Need Dates: August 2016 Duties: • Work with sick and vulnerable children & young people within the health setting of the Children’s Ward of Altnagelvin Hospital exploring the theme of ‘Hearts’. This included the creation of poetry or imaginative stories, which can be told within the ward to bring cheer, positivity and welcome distraction.

Employer: Ink Wing Academy Position: Facilitate, plan and run ‘Ink Wing Academy Summer Fun Programme’ Dates: July - August 2016 Duties: • My own business venture - Facilitate, plan, run, manage, market and lead a Summer School of literacy projects for children within the local area of Castlederg. Projects included hands on, inspiring and fun 3-6 day projects. See www.facebook.com/inkwingacademy for full information.

Employer: Ink Wing Academy, Killen Primary Position: Creative Writer Dates: April - June 2016 Duties: • Facilitate 2 story writing projects throughout KS2 in 10 sessions: Fantasy Adventure with Yr7 and ‘Flying Machines’ Yr5/6. Projects included devices from hands on exploration, discussion, shared and modelled writing and ‘Talk for writing’ strategies sessions with a focus on Journalistic writing in the final two sessions.

Employer: Pushkin Trust Position: Creative Writer, ‘Rekindle the fire within’ Dates: March - June 2016 Duties: • Explore the theme of ’Rekindle the fire within’, with groups of Primary School children at school (Tattygar PS, St Patrick’s, Mullinaskea, Dunmullan PS) and on the Baronscourt estate for ‘Pushkin days’, through the medium of poetry, story writing, story-telling and art with an emphasis also on the environment.

Employer: Pushkin Trust Position: Creative Writer, ‘Pushkin Pathways’ Dates: March - June 2016 Duties: • Explore the theme of ’Rekindle the fire within’, with two groups of Secondary School Pupils (The Sacred Heart, Omagh and Omagh High School) on the Baronscourt estate, through the medium of poetry, with an emphasis also on the environment. Employer: Arts Care Position: Creative Writer, ‘Let the Dance Begin Again’, Derry (Pilot) Dates: April 2016 Duties: • Facilitate poetry workshops exploring the theme of ’Rekindle the fire within’, with Ardnashee College, Derry and an intergenerational project at Foyleville Daycare Centre, through the medium of poetry.

Employer: Arts Care Position: Creative Writer, Horizon West Children’s Hospice Siblings Project Dates: February - April 2016 Duties: • Work alongside siblings of children who are terminally ill to explore a project based around Superheroes! Children create and design their own superhero who they then create poetry about. Collaborative project with a textile artist.

Employer: Ink Wing Academy/ City of Derry and Strabane District Council Position: Poet, Poetry Craft Workshop Dates: April 2016 Duties: • A one-day workshop ‘Poetry Craft’ – a fun up-cycling project that unleashes the poet and craftiness within! Create fun poetry and word play to decorate jam jars to reuse as candle holders or vases or to give an old picture frame a new purpose.

Employer: Pushkin Trust/ Rural Centre for Shared Education Position: Creative Writer Dates: March 2016 Duties: • To introduce the concept of Shared Education and the Strule Campus to Year groups 9 and 10 from Omagh High School and The Sacred Heart. The first day involved facilitation of introducing the project and exploring the idea of change and feelings towards this. Creative writing was the medium of exploration. The following 2 sessions related to a photography ‘Hashtag Swag’ project where the children showed their feelings as a hashtag on their arms and a poetry project ‘Identity’, where children created poetry in relation to aspects that came up in day one. The work is mid publication - to share the pupils’ voice within the community.

Maternity Leave: September 2015 – February 2016 Keeping in touch days… (Ten allowed)

Employer: Ink Wing Academy Position: Creative Writer Dates: February 2016 Duties: • Facilitate 3 story writing projects throughout the school in 5 sessions: ‘The Planet that lost its sparkle’ with Yr6/7, ‘Dragonology’ with Yr5/4 and ‘The Billy Goats Gruff remade’ with Yr1-3. Projects included devices from hands on exploration, discussion, shared and modelled writing and ‘Talk for writing’ strategies.

Employer: Community Arts Partnership Position: Poet, ‘Poetry in Motion for Schools 2016’ Dates: November - December 2016 Duties: • Facilitation of 6 poetry workshops - 3 at Erganagh Primary School, Castlederg and 3 integrative workshops with St Patricks PS, Donemangh and Lough Ash PS. Guide and inspire children on a theme of their choice relating to the loose topic of ‘Light’ with thought provoking activities and the freedom of creativity and audio clips. The outcome was a variety of group or individual poems, some of which are performed or published in an anthology. Several poems were published in the anthology and some performed at The Ulster Hall, Belfast. One poet had a commendation for the Seamus Heaney Award.

Employer: Ink Wing Academy Position: Creative Writer and founder ‘Ink Wing Academy Summer School’ Dates: July - August 2015 Duties: • My own business - Facilitate, manage, market and lead a Summer School of literacy projects for children within the local area of Castlederg. Projects included hands on, inspiring and fun 3-6 day projects including: Dragonology – Imaginative report writing Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – Poetry and Art based on the theme ‘Wonderland’ ‘A wave called sadness’ – Story writing project, children create and make their own picture book and quality story. ‘Flying Machine’ – Story writing project, children create and make their own picture book and quality story. ‘Poetry Craft’ – a fun up-cycling project that unleashes the poet and craftiness within! Create fun poetry and word play to decorate jam jars to reuse as candle holders or vases or to give an old picture frame a new purpose.

Employer: Arts Care Position: Creative Writer, Altnagelvin Project 1 Children in Need Dates: April - June 2015 Duties: • Work with sick and vulnerable children & young people within the health setting of the Children’s Ward of Altnagelvin Hospital exploring the theme ‘My Wonderland’. This includes the creation of poetry or imaginative stories, which can be told within the ward to bring cheer, positivity and welcome distraction.

Employer: Arts Care Position: Creative Writer, NI Confederation for Health & Social Care Dates: 22nd April 2015 Duties: • Lead a workshop with Service Users to capture their voice creatively regarding the main points that stood out for them from NICON 2015. • Present findings and main themes and findings to the conference members.

Employer: Pushkin Trust Position: Creative Writer, ‘Let go, let fly’ Dates: March - June 2015 Duties: • Explore the theme of Seamus Heaney’s ‘Let go, let fly’, with groups of Primary School and Secondary students through the medium of poetry, story writing, story-telling and art with an emphasis also on the environment.

Employer: Prison Arts Position: Creative Writer, ‘Postcards Quaker Project #2, Dungannon’ Dates: Jan – March 2015 Duties: • Second part of the Quaker Postcards project, working with young ladies on probation in the Dungannon area. Ladies explore their past, present and future through creative writing techniques, poetry and art. This project concludes with a published book of the ladies personal story, poetry and art work.

Employer: Arts Care Position: Creative Writer, ‘Here & Now Old People’s Project’ Dates: Jan – March 2015 Duties: • Working in healthcare or social group settings, groups explore reminiscing through poetry and music from the past. I worked with 2 different groups of and older people, some with dementia, exploring parts of their past in projects named ‘You are my Sunshine’. The project also embraced an intergenerational theme, thus I worked with a group of Secondary School girls as well, who explored the importance of their older relatives, creating a poem named ‘The tree of me’ which accompanied a dance that they created also.

Employer: Arts Care/ Pushkin Trust Position: Project Co-ordinator, ‘Let the Dance Begin Again’ Dates: Dec 2014 – March 2015 Duties: • Co-ordinate a full scale community arts project, embracing schools, childcare, local businesses and health care settings within the Strabane area. This involved managing budget, contracts, venues and individual needs with regards to each participant and artist involved (consent, evaluations, day to day management). The outcome resulted in a Pop-up Art Gallery showcasing all art work/ writing created, an evening of Performance arts, dance and drama at The Alley Theatre and a Music video loaded onto YouTube.

Employer: Arts Care/ Pushkin Trust Position: Creative Writer, ‘Let the Dance Begin Again’ Dates: Jan - Feb 2015 Duties: • Story writing with Year 3s from St Mary’s PS exploring the imaginative ideas of The Tinnes in Strabane coming to life at night and the adventures they go on. This resulted in a final book of stories written by each child. • Graphic art with teenagers from EOTAS, including tags, lyrics and phrases that mean something to them. • Knockavoe Special School Yr11 created poetry based on someone who brightens up their life, inspired by the wordless book ‘The flower man’. Poetry was presented using colourful, 3D art work.

Employer: Strabane District Council Position: Artist Co-ordinator, Arts for the Third Age Dates: Nov 2014 - Feb 2015 Duties: • Source 6 local Artisans with traditional skills e.g. Willow Weaver, Crook Maker, Quilter, Fly Tying and Highland dancer and co-ordinate 6 workshops with regards to venue, health and safety and workshop content for 8 adults (over 55 yrs) to take part.

Employer: Arts Care Position: Creative Writer, Twilight Project 4 Dates: Oct- Nov 2014 Duties: • Collaborative writing and art project. Work with young children in care in a small group or 1:1 basis to explore the topic of ‘Making a mark’. Exploring their identity, hopes and wishes, the teenagers use art, photography and words to express their thoughts and themselves.

Employer: Prison Arts Foundation Position: Creative Writer, ‘Postcards Quaker Project #1, Belfast’ Dates: October 2014 – Jan 2015 Duties: • Facilitate ten sessions with women on probation. Working alongside a Youth Worker, the project empowers women to tell their story: past, present and future, in a non-intrusive, non-judgemental and creative manner using visual arts, film, photography, media and words. Outcome includes a published book illustrating honest and true stories with individual poetry and art work.

Employer: Community Arts Partnership Position: Poet, ‘Poetry in Motion for RNIB Visually Impaired adults’ Dates: October 2014 – March 2015 Duties: • Fortnightly project, facilitating an RNIB group of 30 visually impaired adults focussing on the theme ‘I remember…’ Collaborative project with another poet exploring past, present and future wishes or moments; capturing them through words, poetry, storytelling, music and audio recordings.

Employer: Community Arts Partnership Position: Poet, ‘Poetry in Motion for Schools 2014’ Dates: September – October 2015 Duties: • Facilitation of 4 poetry workshops each in Enniskillen Integrated Primary School (P7) and St Cecilia’s, Derry (Yr10): Guide and inspire children on a theme of their choice relating to the topic of ‘I remember…’ with thought provoking activities and the freedom of creativity. The outcome will be a variety of group or individual poems that may be performed or published in an anthology as well as unique 3d display of their work. Enniskillen children focussed on the history of their school, the troubles and integration. St Cecilia’s girls explored the area of Dementia from a carer or suffers perspective, or setting ‘Through a poet’s eyes’ (Heaney or Kavannah).

Employer: Arts Care Position: Story Maker at The Ulster Hospital, Children’s Ward Date: 10th September (pilot session) Duties: • Prepare and deliver a variety of multi-sensory and fun, story making activities for children 4-16yrs with a variety of abilities for a new strategy being developed by Arts Care within the areas of Creative Writing and storytelling in Children’s Wards.

Employer: Border Arts Position: Creative Writer Dates: May- June 2014 Duties: • Working with local Primary Schools in the Castlederg area in relation to the subject ‘Dejection through rejection’, the children created poems, a creative story, metaphors on canvas with collage, T-shirt design and a short film illustrating the children’s thoughts on what family means to them. The writing complimented dance pieces and both dance and writing were performed at The Alley theatre.

Drumnabey Primary School and The Gaelscoil. When creating the dance the children talked about isolation, loneliness, selfishness, giving, kindness, support, respect and sharing their talents or strengths with their community. Children created a poem about giving compliments and a creative and imaginative story that they later learnt and preformed. St. Theresa's Primary School Children explored how our family roots and our ancestors have passed on, from generation to generation, many special and unique talents and gifts and how some families are made up differently to others. Family is a place for us to feel comfort, love, protection and support together; a place for us just to be ourselves. The children created a collaged canvas each including metaphors about what family means to them. They also created a poem relating to the theme ‘Family is…’ Edwards Primary School This dance portrays some of the negativities and pressures of modern day life including cyber bullying, neglect, loneliness and living with mental health issues, amongst other stresses. The dance emphasises how to positively overcome these ongoing difficulties within society by helping and supporting each other. The children designed and decorated t-shirts encouraging victims to STOP, SPEAK OUT, LISTEN and how to get help as well as creating an urban poem about betrayal, neglect, bullying and asking for help. They performed the poem and wore their t-shirts.

Employer: Gaelscoil Ni Dhochartaigh, Strabane Position: Dance Choreographer Dates: May 2014 Duties: • Create, teach and present dances for a whole school production (4-11 yrs) of Jungle Book in the Irish Language. The children performed for two nights at the Alley theatre.

Employer: Arts Care/ Pushkin Trust Position: Creative Writer Dates: January - March 2014 Duties: • Facilitate writing through games, the sharing of ideas, music and discussion in an intergenerational project between two groups of Primary School children and older residents of Strabane • Created a rap ‘Best town Ever!’ based on One Direction song • Performance poetry based on descriptive settings of seasons