Our classes provide a nurturing and encouraging environment where you can learn and grow as an individual. The tutor will guide you through various techniques and projects, ensuring that you feel supported and empowered to express your creativity. Teaching will be delivered through a series of online workshops (via Microsoft Teams) that aim to develop confidence in writing and reading your work aloud, as well as providing the necessary feedback to your peers in a supportive and constructive way. Ultimately, the aim is to broaden your knowledge of the memoir as well as provide guidance on how best to craft your writing. Some weekly sessions will be supported by reading material that draws from a diverse community of writers.

Ronnie McGrath is a writer and former associate cultural studies lecturer for the University of the Arts, London College of Communication. He has delivered talks on race and identity for Bristol University and The London College of Printing. He has published work in IC3, The Penguin Book of New Black Writing in Britain, and Black Lives Have Always Mattered, a collection of essays, poems, and personal narratives. His latest publication is Watermelon, rivers of love speeches, a conceptual prose work of things unspoken.

Access to a computer and the internet is required to participate in the online workshops. Applicants must be at least 19 years of age at the start of the academic year, to attend this course. You don’t need to have any experience to join this course, however as part of our series of funded courses, you are limited to one course per term (excluding online, this can be an additional), students need to meet the criteria as set out below. The aim of the course is to improve your well-being, confidence, self-esteem, and creative and vocational skills whilst providing progression routes for your learning through support and guidance from your tutor. These courses are for self-referring or referred patient/client, making the courses available to all. If you're experiencing conditions like stress, anxiety, depression, behaviour-related health issues, mental health, bereavement, chronic pain, or illness, joining us can provide a beneficial experience and a re-engagement into education or employment. If you have a support worker or have a condition we will need to be aware of, please let us know – there may be other specialised creative courses that are more suited to your needs from other health providers. During your first session the tutor will spend some time with you 1:1 to support you with your declared needs to ensure we give you the best support and guidance during the course.

The following courses may also be of interest: Discussions on Identity - It's Not Just Black and White with Ronnie McGrath and Creative Writing with Ronnie McGrath.