Write-Back Charity

Details about the Charity

The aims of this charity is to build self-respect, community and independent voices for young people through the sharing of stories. The charity delivers ten week long programmes and works with schools to identify students lacking in confidence or needing a creative outlet. The programmes introduce students to storytelling techniques and to the writing of young people to encourage self-expression and enable them to learn from other’s experiences. They become empowered to tell their own stories and all stories are published and presented at a graduation ceremony to celebrate their writing and voice.

Details of the Project

We are funding and delivering a very special project with Write-Back. We are inviting Park School for Girls alumnae to an event in June where they will be able to use storytelling techniques to capture their own experiences of changing schools following the closure of Park School for Girls, as well as providing their own insight into the legacy they would like the Park Trust to secure. This will be a very special and personal project. Secondly, we will also be supporting a storytelling programme for girls in an East London School, ten sessions will be delivered to girls identified by the school’s pastoral, SEND and inclusion teams who will benefit in a project that will build confidence, self-esteem and positive engagement through storytelling.

Delivery of Park School for Girls Alumnae workshop.

On Sunday 29th June, we hosted a very special event and welcomed back some of our Park School for Girls alumnae. After some heart-warming reunions, the workshop commenced with some icebreaker activities, followed by a ‘Words for Memories’ activity where the storytellers listed words and phrases to describe their time at Park School and their feelings around its closure. The girls shared their personal stories, exploring how the school’s closure affected them as individuals. They created vision boards outlining their hopes for a brighter future for girls. Their artwork and group discussion highlighted many areas of importance to them and to the potential future work of the Trust. From this wish list a future manifesto for the Trust was created.

Feedback from the girls made it clear that the workshop was not only enjoyable but deeply meaningful. They appreciated having a safe space to share their voices, tell their stories and speak openly about their personal experience of the school closure. Through this process, they all felt a sense of empowerment and connection, building resilience as they reflected on and moved past challenges. They took pride in creating a manifesto for the Trust, with each girl sharing their vision and highlighting the causes they hope the Trust will champion in the future.

We see a future where:

Everyone is free and independent. People can believe what they believe, and do what they wish.
Everyone understands the harm of abuse and they understand each other’s boundaries.
All girls are allowed an education and are not forced into marriage.
Everyone can dream big and follow their goals.
The people in war-torn countries are free and everyone around the world can live in peace.
People understand each other and learn from our past.

To do this, the Park Charitable Trust should:

Deliver short, powerful presentations to students in schools.
Deliver workshops to mixed gender groups in schools and youth groups.
Organise presentations to parents so adults can also learn.
Put pressure on MPs to make a difference where they can.
Link to other charities nationally and internationally.
Run aspirational workshops and coaching to help young people achieve their goals.
Reach the public through lecture series and online links and videos.
Hold bigger scale Park alumnae events.

Delivery of the Storytelling Project – Greatfields School

This ten week story-telling programme was delivered into Greatfields School in Barking and concluded with a celebratory event in January 2026. The aim of the programme was to build self-respect, community and independent voices for young people through the sharing of stories; to engage students with storytelling and self-reflection and to engage students’ sense of belonging within their school community. 9 storytellers engaged and 100% successfully completed the programme and published their stories in their very own book.

The young authors used the programme to confront difficult and sensitive issues including sexism, bullying and mental health. Despite these difficult topics, the young people were optimistic with all participants agreeing or (more commonly) strongly agreeing that they felt ‘hopeful for my future in the school and beyond’. Every single young person chose to share their story and read an extract from it at their book launch.

Impact & Outcome of the Project

9 young storytellers engaged and 100% successfully completed the programme and published their stories in their very own book.

The young authors used the programme to confront difficult and sensitive issues including sexism, bullying and mental health.

The Rosenberg survey showed that two thirds improved in their self-belief and confidence.

There was an average 15% increase in participants’ self-esteem across the programme.

All participants reported having the opportunities to express themselves in the way that they wished to through the programme and affirmed that they had a story worth telling.

Despite having engaged with such difficult topics, the young people were optimistic with all participants agreeing or (more commonly) strongly agreeing that they felt ‘hopeful for my future in the school and beyond’.

Every single young person chose to share their story and read an extract from it at their book launch.