With the prevailing weather conditions during the weeks before christmas, our planned celebration and book launch for the Glenburn Girls group looked a bit touch and go. However, on Wednesday 22nd December Nisha and I, Renfrewshire libraries staff and a host of aunts, grannies, mums and dads, big sisters, baby brothers and friends did manage to make it through the snow and ice to Glenburn Learning centre in Paisley.
The girls have been meeting since January 2010 and with the support of the national lifelong learning programme and local volunteers, have been writing poems and stories and developing their skills and confidence through outdoor activities and drama workshops.
They called themselves the Wacky Writers and compiled and published a book of “poems, stories and random writings”. Jill McKee from Renfrewshire libraries, who have supported the project and provided a venue for the girls to meet, presented the girls with a gift and copies of the publication to take home to their friends and family. For most of the girls this is the first time they have ever been published. A copy of the book will be available at all Renfrewshire libraries and in GWL’s archive.
We asked the girls what they felt the group had done for them and this is a little of what they said…
“I came to the group ’cause there is not much else to do..it is sorta fun and I get to see other people and it’s good for your writing and reading skills…”
“The club has made me read more..I never used to enjoy reading but now I kind of do and I like to write stories..”
“I really enjoyed participating in the obstacle course..hopefully I will continue to read and write more and more”
“I’ve enjoyed working with people of my own age on something that people think is boring but when you do it with your mates it’s fun..I have learned a lot ..and I have made really good friends..”
This was a lovely way to end the working year and end this particular project – Nisha and I really enjoyed meeting the girls’ families and friends and appreciated the effort they had made to get there. Well done to all the girls. It’s been great fun to work with this group – my Wednesday afternoons will seem very quiet from now on!
