Rippling Out Further

We are delighted that we were awarded funding from the UKSPF to run further sessions of our popular Rippling Out project from 2025-2026.

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Rippling Out Further launched in November, at Medway River Lit with a series of 4 literary workshops (writing for stage, comics, novels and poetry), and we’ll be running a series of literary adjacent arts and crafts workshops and talks into the New Year, using recycled and environmentally sound materials to encourage participants to think about how they might be able to contribute to reducing carbon. 

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We started off with Calm and Creative Chinese Calligraphy Art on 6 December at Chatham Library, with artist and hynotherapist Sih Yu Chen Found. 

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We've got an addition to the programme - we'll be hosting on online Watch Party for teh final cut of Sarah Hehir's documentary about the making of her play, The Shadow Garden on 24 January. Please join us from wherever you are! 

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We're continuing with a talk from local playwright Pauline Holmes on 7 Feb, about the history of the Lion Queen, the subject of her latest play (at Chatham Library), 'Poetry, pottery and a cuppa' with Carol Smith on 21 Feb, and a clothing upcycling workshop with Natasha Boardman-Steer on 7 March (Sun Pier House). 

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​The funding from UKSPF helped us to run Medway River Lit 2025 (so thanks to them again), and in particular, set up two new pilot initiatives, The Local Writer Development Programme, for a small group of writers who’ve already been published but would like to receive one-to-one mentoring; meetings will start in January.

We're also expanding our Medway Youth Laureate Scheme, to pilot workshops and initiatives in 4 Medway schools (Fort Pitt, Victory Academy, Brompton Academy and Hundred of Hoo Academy) and will also be offering various writing opportunities to our Laureates.

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We've already visited Victory Academy to run a poetry workshop for National Poetry Day, and Fort Pitt Grammar School to run a Creative Careers talk.  

"A huge thank you to Medway River Lit and Medway Libraries for delivering such an inspiring and creative poetry workshop! Our students were captivated by the power of words and encouraged to explore their voices through poetic expression. The session was filled with imagination, thoughtful discussion, and a celebration of the written word. We’re thrilled to see so many budding poets in our classrooms!" (Victory Academy National Poetry Day 2025 Workshop)

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Thanks to Medway Council who allocate the funding and to UKSPF.  

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Rippling Out 2025 

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The first Rippling Out project consisted of two strands running from January to May 2025: Bringing provocative, environmentally conscious performers to an afternoon timeslot in an accessible venue; and, hosting a series of literary-adjacent creative workshops attracting a range of people.

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Visit the blog for a full writeup of the project which was attended by 750 people. 

Rippling Out and Rippling Out Further is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

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The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus​