A Way with Words is an intergenerational project set to begin at The Exchange for children and young people, which will tackle serious literature and involve full-length novels. The project, sponsored by the Clore Duffield Foundation includes three elements;

Evacuation – we will explore the theme of evacuation with 7 – 11 year-olds at Holy Cross Primary School in Catford, using books such as ‘Carries War’ and ‘Goodnight Uncle Tom’ alongside older volunteers who experienced evacuation first hand, to devise and write a play based on real life stories.

Holocaust – Volunteers with first-hand experience of the Holocaust will work with an older group of 12 – 16 year- olds from St Matthews Academy, Blackheath. The subject will be explored through books such as ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’, ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ and poems of the period. The young people will be interviewing survivors of the Holocaust and their families, and will use the interviews to devise a play.

Poet in residence – We are delighted to be hosting a poet in residence in the Library at The Exchange for the half terms in October 2015 and February 2016. Further details will be available under the ‘What’s on’ section of the website in early October and February respectively.