Kicking Leaves is a response to requests from our schools for more access to professional writers. The context of Pennine Lancashire is important. The communities are multi-cultural with large minorities of South Asian origin. They face educational, social and economic challenges in equal measure. The festival aims: * to give children and young people the opportunity to work alongside professional writers and artists * to give chidlren and young people access to high quality professional theatre * to value the 'voice' of young people through their writing, drama, storytelling and illustration * to discover new approaches to teaching and learning which will use the expertise of artists to contribute to the professional development of teachers * to provide new sources of motivation for pupils and teachers for teaching and learning * To demonstrate how literature can be an inspiration to develop: writing and drama skills, wider reading & oracy; creative and thinking skills; cooperative learning and team building; making connections to develop an understanding of other cultures * to offer practical advice on how schools might access the resources offered by teh arts industry on a local and regional level. * to access new partnerships The Festival will achieve these aims by bringing together the work of a group of major partners under a common umbrella to flood Pennine Lancashire with poets, writers, actors and illustrators A 'Kicking Leaves' brochure will be distributed to over 400 schools in Pennine Lancashire and if funding allows, we intend to publish children's writing in an anthology which will be distributed to all Pennine Lancashire Schools. A professional writer will be commissioned to write the first piece in teh anthology so that children will see their work publisehd alongside that of an established children's writer. For the community of schools, the Festival offers an opportunity to engage in a high quality arts in education programme. The programme will involve children and students from 5 - 18 and their parents. It will make a direct contribution to both reading, writing and speaking and listening skills. The work with artists will not be confined to the classroom. Evey opportunity will be taken to create workshop activities which take children out of school with their writers into the surrounding countryside, to museums, country parks and even church graveyards! With an intergenerational perspective, the festival will also invite members of the University of the Third Age to read to children in public libraries. There will be an opportunity for parents, grandparents and other adults to meet and listen to a professional writer talking about her work. Expenditure Artists fees 40 days @ £250 per day Adopt an author programme – e-mail contact + author visits 4,000 Artists accommodation and subsistence 500 Pupil coach hire 800 Materials 500 Travel to monitor quality 500 Design and print festival brochure and flyers 2000 Anthology of children’s writing 4,000 Postage 400 Staffing 20 days at £120 per day 2400 Lancashire County Museums Service – use of workshop spaces and facilities 800 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 25,900 Income MPA cash contribution confirmed 5,200 MPA staffing in kind support (confirmed) 2,400 Lancashire County Museums Service support in kind (confirmed) 800 Schools’ contribution 5,000 TOTAL INCOME 13,400 Funding sought £12,500