Fighting Words – like to join our team of volunteers?
Riverbank Arts Centre is delighted to partner with Fighting Words on a series of workshops in 2019.
Fighting Words aim is:
To help children and young people, and adults who did not have this opportunity as children, to discover and harness the power of their own imaginations and creative writing skills. At its core, Fighting Words is also about something much broader and more inclusive. It is about using the creative practice of writing and storytelling to strengthen our children and teenagers – from a wide range of backgrounds – to be resilient, creative and successful shapers of their own lives.
What kind of people volunteer at Fighting Words?
Everyone! All tutoring at Fighting Words is free and delivered by teams of volunteer writing tutors. Fighting Words have over 400 volunteer tutors – people from all walks of life – including third level students (from all disciplines!), retired people, writers (both professional and aspiring), teachers, journalists, visual artists, musicians and filmmakers – just to name a few.
What kind of skills do I need to volunteer at Fighting Words?
Anyone who enjoys working in a creative environment with the individuals and groups that come to our centres – and is a good listener – is welcome to volunteer. You don’t need to be a writer or a teacher to be a Fighting Words volunteer writing tutor.
What kind of commitment to I have to give?
Volunteering with Fighting Words is totally flexible because your time is a valuable resource. Tutors choose the days and times they come in using an online calendar.
There is no minimum time commitment – and we mean that!
What is involved when I sign up?
Most workshops are divided into two parts: group work and individual writing time. During the first half, you might be asked to hang up coats or provide name badges to the students. In the second half, you will work with 2-3 students as they work on their writing, providing help, advice and encouragement. There is never any emphasis on spelling or grammar.
Some of our tutors are also story illustrators and provide the pictures to accompany the students’ stories while more experienced volunteers may become workshop leaders.
How do I sign up or find out more?
Volunteer recruitment for a Kildare-based team of Fighting Words tutors is taking place now – you must be over 18 years old and have completed secondary school to apply.
There will be training by the Fighting Words team at Riverbank Arts Centre for Kildare-based volunteers in February – please fill in Kildare Fighting Words Volunteer Application Form and return to kildare@fightingwords.ie by Monday 28th January if you would like to be part of our team of volunteers. Training will take place in early February 2019.