For the South-west region of SPINE Lite activities, Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth are hosting a series of private and public events facilitated by their Poets in Residence and local artists.
Below are the contact details for the lead London south-west libraries and public events. All events are free to attend and welcome children and their families to attend.
Merton
Website: see what’s on | X @MertonLibraries | Facebook: @mertonlibraries
Events
- Morden’s Magical Imagination
Join us for a fun creative writing workshop and show with poet Paul Lyalls suitable for the whole family. Children will create a poem using their imagination which will be added to a giant book on display at the library.
Saturday 23 March – 1-3pm – Morden library, Merton Civic Centre, London Rd, Morden SM4 5DX
More info.
- Story Spells
Conjure up a sensational story from weird and wonderful writing prompts mixed with magical games and activities. Facilitated by writer, educator, poet and musician Vici Hoban Read.
Thursday 4 April – 2-3.30pm – Morden library, Merton Civic Centre, London Rd, Morden SM4 5DX
More info.
- Heroes & Villains
What curious creatures and colourful characters lie waiting in your imagination? What do they want? Where are they going? Do you dare to set them free? Facilitated by writer, educator, poet and musician Vici Hoban Read.
Tuesday 9 April – 2-3.30pm – Morden library, Merton Civic Centre, London Rd, Morden SM4 5DX
More info.
- Wondrous Worlds
What does your ‘world of pure imagination’ look like? A magical land? A haunted city? Is it in the past, the future or right here under your nose? How do we get there? Let’s go! Facilitated by writer, educator, poet and musician Vici Hoban Read.
Thursday 11 April – 2-3.30pm – Morden library, Merton Civic Centre, London Rd, Morden SM4 5DX
More info.
About Vici Hoban Read
Vici Hoban Read is a writer, poet, musician, music educator, Creative Workshop leader & Writing for Wellbeing facilitator.
Vici lives in the London Borough of Merton and has facilitated creative arts sessions & workshops – for both adults and children – for almost 20 years.
As a writer & poet, Vici has contributed to a wide range of publications, including Psychologies magazine and Earth Pathways calendar.
As a facilitator, she has worked on community arts projects and creative workshops for organisations such as Creative Youth charity, Kingston Music Service and Merton Libraries.
Vici is also the founder of Jiggle & Jam – indoor & outdoor music, movement, story & nature play sessions and workshops for children and families: www.jiggleandjam.co.uk
Instagram: @vicihobanread_writes and @jiggleandjam
Poet in Residence
One time Poet in Residence for the Roald Dahl Family & Museum. Paul has worked with Arsenal FC, The 2012 London Olympics, Glastonbury, Spurs & even NASA!
His work appears in over 30 books and collections and he recently had a poem he wrote about Stephen Lawrence accepted in the World Wide anthology ‘Black Lives Matter’ 100 poems to change the world. Michael Rosen describes Paul as ‘ A kind of magic that makes you see the world in a different way’.
Sutton
Website: see what’s on | X @SuttonLibraries | Facebook: @suttonlibrarieslondon
Events
- Imagination Station: A Creative Writing Workshop for 7-11 years
Discover the magic of your own imagination with Poet in Residence Alice Frecknall!
The Imagination Station is packed with fun ideas and playful activities to get your creativity flowing. Why not construct a word collage… reinvent a favourite story… or try your hand at group poetry with other Imagination Station visitors? Whatever your inspiration, follow the magical pathways of your imagination and discover the exciting places they might lead!
Towards the end of this two-hour workshop you’ll have an opportunity to share what you’ve written out loud.
Suitable for ages 7-11 years.
Saturday 23 March, Satuday 6 April and Saturday 13 April – 2-4pm – Wallington Library, Shotfield, Wallington SM6 0HY. To book, please us this link.
- Magical Creatures: A Creative Writing & Drama Workshop
Join us for this fun workshop in which we will create stories about mythical and magical creatures. Through a series of creative writing and drama exercises we will explore the worlds of creatures like dragons, fairies and unicorns and we will even invent our own new magical creatures. The workshop will be facilitated by Saraswathi Sukumar and is perfect for ages 7-11.
Friday 5 April – 2-3.30pm – Sutton Central Library, St Nicholas Way, Sutton SM1 1EA
Poet in Residence
Alice Frecknall is a poet, short fiction writer, and fine artist. Her debut poetry collection, Somewhere Something is Burning, is published by Out-Spoken Press (2021).
Her writing has been widely anthologised, including in The London Magazine, The Stinging Fly, berlin lit, And Other Poems, bath magg, fourteen poems, and Butcher’s Dog, and was most recently shortlisted for the Out-Spoken Prize for Poetry 2023 and The London Magazine Poetry Prize 2023.
Alice has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Hull, is a Roundhouse Poetry Collective alumna, and member of the UniSlam Post-Emerging Cohort. She has read her work at venues and festivals across the country.
Wandsworth
Website: Wandsworth Libraries X: @wandsworthlibs Facebook: @wandsworthlibrarians
events
- Kite Flights!
Have you ever travelled by kite to another land? Join local poet Laila Sumpton to create your own kite, plan your journey and tell tales of your travels! What foods, landscapes, animals, cities will you experience? Inspired by poems from ‘Around the World in Eighty Poems’ edited by James Berry explore poems from many cultures in this free craft and poetry workshop.
This poetry and craft session is for ages 4 and above and their families.
Saturday 6 April – 2-4pm – Balham Library, 16 Ramsden Road, Balham, London, SW12 8QY
- Boat and Balloon Travels!
We are going on a journey – by hot air balloon and paper boat! What will happen, where will we go – you decide, get ready for the ride! Inspired by poems in ‘Around the World in Eighty Poems’ edited by James Berry.
This free craft and poetry workshop is for ages 7 and above and their families.
Thursday 11 April – 3.30 – 5.30pm – Balham Library, 16 Ramsden Road, Balham, London, SW12 8QY
Poet in Residence
Laila Sumpton’s poetry uses imagery and lyricism to tell stories about identity and human rights. She studied English literature at the University of St Andrews and Human Rights at the University of London. She is a member of the Keats House Poetry Forum, a collective of London based poets supported by Keats House in Hampstead who work on poetry projects. She co-edited In Protest- 150 poems for human rights, a unique anthology of global poetry collated by the Keats House Poets and the University of London’s Human Rights Consortium.
Laila performs her poetry and organises events and workshops at universities, festivals, heritage sites and various NGOs- using poetry and the arts to campaign for human rights and bring people together. She is putting together her first pamphlet and has been documenting the memories of war survivors in Bosnia, as well as working on poems that explore refugee and indigenous rights.