## THE WINDOWS PROJECT ANNUAL REPORT 2022/2023 

In the year to April 2023, The Windows Project ran a total of 125 writer and artist sessions in the local authority areas of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral. 

103 were **community workshops,** 16 sessions were held in **schools and educational venues,** 

6 events: the Matt Simpson Memorial Readings, held in partnership with Liverpool Hope University with guests Kayo Chingonyi and Sean Hewitt; a book launch with Eleanor Rees and Emily Portman in Sudley Walled garden; ‘remembering dave’ event at The Black-E, celebrating the life and achievement of Dave Calder; an event celebrating The Waste Land at Open Eye Gallery In addition, there were 20 **Virtual Writing Advice Desk consultations.** 

An estimated total of 3,888 participants. 26% of the work was specifically with people with additional needs. 20% of the work was specifically with communities of the Global Majority. 

## INFORMATION and ADVICE 

WP continued to respond to individual requests for advice, information and practical criticism by e-mail and telephone. 

The Windows Project **Small Press Library** of independent literary journals and magazines is housed in The Picton Room, Liverpool Central Library. 

The Windows Project website www.windowsproject.co.uk contains details on writers, publications and events. Average visits - 1,866 Unique visitors - 1,600 Page views - 3,400 

Geography - 71.4% visits from the UK, 16.7% from the USA, 11.9% from other countries 

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## WORKSHOP PROGRAMME 

## **Halton** 

Palacefields, Runcorn; Halton Brook Community Centre; Holy Spirit, Halton Brook; Warrington Road Centre, Widnes 

## **Knowsley** 

Arncliffe Community Centre, Halewood; Halewood Tuesday Club; Halewood Leisure Centre; New Hutte Neighbourhood Centre, Halewood; Halewood Youth in Community Centre (‘The Boyzee’); Moving Senses, Whiston. 

## **Liverpool** 

The ACE Place; Acronym Community Empowerment; The Black-E; Croxteth Federation; Cycle of Life; Garston Adventure Playground; Greenhouse Project, Lodge Lane; Kensington Fields Community Association; Liverpool Central Library; Merseyside Domestic Violence Services; M.P.A.C. Play Days: Princes Park, Rice Lane City Farm, Garston Park; Methodist Youth Centre; New Derry Social Club; Nugent Care, Edge Lane; SMARTYS, Mab Lane; Speke Adventure Playground; The Vibe; Walton Youth Project; _Chinese New Year Storytelling_ : Great George Square. 

## **Sefton** 

Litherland Y&C Centre 

## **Wirral** 

Lady Lever Gallery Wirral Mencap, Bloom Building, Birkenhead; Happy Times Activities, Moreton 

## **Other** 

National Poetry Library, Royal Festival Hall, London 

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## EDUCATION PROGRAMME 

## **Wirral** 

West Kirby Residential School. 

## **Other Educational Bookings** 

Tile Cross Academy, Birmingham St. George British School, Barcelona Leaways School, Hackney 

**National Literacy Trust** Bradford (online) Birmingham: Heathfield Primary 

Plymouth: Stuart Road Primary, Pilgrim Primary, Pennycross Primary Preston: Fishwick Primary, St Matthews Primary, Deepdale Primary Salford: St. Joseph’s Primary Speke: St. Ambrose Primary, New Mersy Retail Park 

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## WRITERS, ARTISTS & WORKERS 2022/23 

Maria Isakova Bennett, Olivia Bennett, Aaliyah Braithwaite, Dave Calder, Alison Down, Patrick Graham, John Hughes, Judy Mazonowicz, Michelle Sakim, Bene Sebuyange, Aditi Shah, Emma Sutcliffe, Levi Tafari, Dave Ward, Curtis Watt. 

## Student Placements and Volunteers 

Katie Byrne, Hannah Merchant, Bea Worrell 

## Equal Opportunities Monitoring 

18 writers, artists, placements and volunteers, of whom 12 were women (67%) 

6 were men (33%) 

7 were Global Majority (39%) 

6 had additional needs (33%). 

## Guest Writers/Artists 

Kayo Chingonyi, Sean Hewitt, Emily Portman, Eleanor Rees 

## FUNDRAISING 

The Windows Project received funding towards the workshop programme from: Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust, Holiday Activities Fund, City of Liverpool, Localgiving, P.H. Holt Foundation, John Moores Foundation, Merseyside Play Action Council, 

Also, a Santander Bursary for continuing development of student placements. 

## PARTNERSHIP WORKING 

WP is a member of **COoL** (Creative Organisations of Liverpool) and Liverpool Literacy Cycle. 

## PUBLICATIONS 

WP continues publication of **Smoke** magazine of new poetry and artwork, as well as booklets of poetry from workshops. 

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