A team of young people have been recruited to share their love of reading and to celebrate Norwich's status as a UNESCO City of Literature.
Writers' Centre Norwich has launched a UNESCO Young Ambassadors scheme for 14 to 18-year-olds and has the long-term ambition for there to be young ambassadors in schools across the county.
The hope is they will share their love of reading and writing with younger pupils and their local communities, and in return they will be given free training, behinds the scenes access to events, festivals and performances, and the chance to interview writers, including Elizabeth is Missing author Emma Healey.
Sophie Scott-Brown, learning and participation manager at Writers' Centre Norwich, said: 'We are so impressed with the enthusiasm of our new recruits. Our ambition is for there to be a UNESCO Young Ambassador in every school in the county. Norfolk has such a strong literary heritage and we want to find ways for our whole region to share in this. Schools, cultural organisations and businesses interested in working with us on this should get in touch via the WCN website.'
Moby Wells, a Year 10 pupil at Hethersett Academy, is one of the 15 new ambassadors and took part in the first training day at Writers' Centre Norwich's base in Dragon Hall on February 27.
He said 'I was initially a little nervous, but at the first training day I was able to give a talk which went surprisingly well because all the other people were so nice, it coaxed me out of my shell. Even though I've only met my mentor Sophie once so far she has already helped me greatly and has really gone out of her way. I know the programme will be a lot of work but I feel I can do it because of the help from the mentors.'
Writers' Centre Norwich will announce in the future when there will be the opportunity for more young people to apply to be UNESCO young ambassadors, but anybody wanting information in advance can email sophie.scottbrown@writerscentrenorwich.org
For more about Writers' Centre Norwich visit www.writerscentrenorwich.org.uk
Do you have a Norwich arts story? Email arts correspondent Emma Knights at emma.knights@archant.co.uk
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