YA Young Writers' Retreat 2025
Three Days of Writing and Creative fun for young people aged 12 - 16 years. Come along for 1, 2 or all 3 days.
Time & Location
18 Aug 2025, 10:00 – 20 Aug 2025, 16:00
Southend-on-Sea, Chalkwell Hall, Chalkwell Park, Chalkwell Ave, Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 8NB, UK
About the Event
The Jacqson Diego Young Writers’ Retreat is an inclusive three-day project that enables young writers the space and opportunity to develop their writing skills through fun activities, exercises and workshops that have been developed and are led by professional writers and acclaimed children’s authors. Everything is focussed on an enjoyment to write and create, regardless of ability. Like our previous Young Writers’ Retreats, each day will be structured with a mix of activities and optional free writing time to help the children develop their work in a way that suits them individually and there will be an author joining us in person each day. The events will be run in a safe environment and all of our staff members are DBS checked.
The retreat for 12 - 16 year olds (age on 1st September 2025), will be held on the 18, 19, 20 of August from 10 – 4pm each day, and I am really excited to announce that our guest authors are:
Monday 18 August: Frank Cadaver (aka Colm Field)
Tuesday 19 August: Annaliese Avery
Wednesday 20 August: Simon James Green
The retreat is again being held at Metal Culture in Chalkwell Hall, the big white building in Chalkwell park, Westcliff on Sea, and participants can be signed up for 1, 2, or 3 days. Every day will be different although it will follow a similar structure, all centred around a workshop by a different guest author, alongside lots of writing activities and challenges. There will also be the opportunity for young people coming along for the whole project to develop a piece of work across the three days if they wish.
Everything required to participate in the writing activities will be provided in the fee, which also includes a copy of the author’s latest book each day.
Participants will need to bring a packed lunch, drinks and fruit snacks will be provided.
There are limited spaces for each day and booking is essential as the spaces fill fast.
To Book:
Booking is for each full day or at a reduced fee for attendance at all three. The inclusive cost this year remains at £40 for each single day or £110 for all three days.
There is nothing to pay now. Please email us at jacqsondiego@outlook.com to book, stating which days you require and your child’s name and age.