An experiential two-day online workshop on writing for social impact which will explore how to execute ethical and impactful storytelling and provide a call-to-action for readers.
4 starting dates
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Starting date:
- Duration: 2 days
- Time: to
- Fees: £130 (no VAT)
One scholarship available.
N.B.: It is not possible to transfer from this course.
- Occurs: Friday and Saturday
- Location: Online
- Booking deadline:
-
Starting date:
- Duration: 2 days
- Time: to
- Fees: £130 (no VAT)
One scholarship available.
N.B.: It is not possible to transfer from this course.
- Occurs: Friday and Saturday
- Location: Online
- Booking deadline:
-
Starting date:
- Duration: 2 days
- Time: to
- Fees: £130 (no VAT)
One scholarship available.
N.B.: It is not possible to transfer from this course.
- Occurs: Friday and Saturday
- Location: Online
- Booking deadline:
-
Starting date:
- Duration: 2 days
- Time: to
- Fees: £130 (no VAT)
One scholarship available.
N.B.: It is not possible to transfer from this course.
- Occurs: Friday and Saturday
- Location: Online
- Booking deadline:
Want to find out more?
Testimonials
Writing for Social Impact Course overview
Our Writing for Social Impact course is a two-day online workshop aimed at anyone who wants to learn strategic and creative ways of achieving real-world social impact through their writing.
This might include charity and third sector professionals, people working on the frontline of public services (youth workers, nurses, teachers), or those with lived experience of injustice.
The Writing for Social Impact course will be held over two mornings, via Zoom, and it will explore how to conduct interviews, execute ethical and impactful storytelling, and provide a call-to-action for readers.
The workshop will cover:
- How to conduct interviews
- How to execute ethical and impactful storytelling
- How to provide a call-to-action for your readers
- How to discover different types of social impact.
Students do not need to have any prior experience of writing. You only need a genuine passion to create progressive change with your pen.
A fully funded place is available on each course for a young adult (18-25) from an underrepresented background and/or facing financial difficulty. To apply for this, please contact Ciaran Thapar explaining why you'd like to attend.
Who is it for?
This Writing for Social Impact course is open to anyone who wants to learn how to write impactfully, which might include charity and third sector professionals, people working on the frontline of public services (youth workers, nurses, teachers), or those with lived experience of injustice.
Find out more about our Non-fiction writing courses
Timetable
This practical Writing for Social Impact masterclass will take place online over two days, Friday and Saturday, 10am - 12.30pm.
Benefits
- Delivered by experienced digital professional
- Taught in small groups
- Awarded a City, University of London certificate
What will I learn?
In this online masterclass you’ll:
- Be encouraged to think about what ‘social impact’ means - and how it might be achieved through storytelling
- Learn how to build empathy with, and communicate facts to, your readers
- Discover new ways of planning and executing a story
- Discuss the ethics of writing about injustice
- Convert your personal and professional experiences into confident narratives.
- Enjoy practical in-class writing exercises
- Take away top tools, tips and insights
- Plus, enjoy live expert feedback and highly recommended resources.
By the end of the course, you will be clearer on the different types of social-impact writing and how you can achieve these within your own writing projects.
Assessment and certificates
A two-day experiential workshop. Written exercises in class. Q&As with the tutor throughout.
You will be awarded an official City, University of London certificate on completion of the course if you attend over 70 per cent of the class. The course is not formally accredited.
Eligibility
A two-day experiential workshop. Written exercises in class. Q&As with the tutor throughout.
You will be awarded an official City, University of London certificate on completion of the course if you attend over 70 per cent of the class. The course is not formally accredited.
English requirements
Fluent written and spoken English is essential
Recommended reading
Books
- The Corner, Simon, D. Canongate, 2010
- Partition Voices, Puri, K. Bloomsbury, 2020
- The Life Inside, West, A. Picador, 2022
Articles
- https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/lifestyle/article/bikelife-movement-london-cycling
- https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/youth-violence-women
- https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jun/12/did-they-give-life-no-so-how-can-they-take-it-on-the-frontline-of-knife
- https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2017/02/view-brixton-how-bridge-gentrification-s-stark-divides
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-53025654
Tutor
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Ciaran Thapar
Ciaran Thapar is a youth worker and author based in south London. He has experience delivering educational programmes in secondary schools, youth clubs and prisons. He is the Founder of RoadWorks, an education organisation which uses storytelling to engage with and upskill young people at risk of social exclusion and violence. In his journalism for publications such as British GQ and The Guardian, Ciaran has written about austerity politics, multiculturalism and urban youth culture, including an investigation into Britain’s BikeLife craze and various commentaries on serious youth violence in London. He has written profiles of artists such as: Digga D, Dave, Moses Boyd, Stormzy, Riz Ahmed, George The Poet and more. Ciaran's debut book, Cut Short: Youth Violence, Loss and Hope in the City, was published by Penguin UK in June 2021.
