"This scheme will help achieve this. The doors are now open to develop their skills through creativity and writing to cope with many of the challenges they will face in the future."
Jake, aged 14, who is attending the first pilot workshop at NCH's Knowsley Family Intervention Project in Liverpool said, "When I was told about the workshops I thought they might be boring, but they have actually been really fun. Last week animators came to the session and I was really impressed by their sketches. I enjoyed working from their sketches to make character models from plasticine, and am looking forward to the next workshop."
The first to take residence at NCH projects in London and Liverpool are Peter Mills, who writes on ITV's Coronation Street and BBC1's Casualty and Holby City; Ben Schiffer, lead writer on Channel 4's Skins and BBC1's Spooks; Roy Boulter, writer for The Street on BBC1 and Brookside on Channel 4 and Lucia Haynes, writer on BBC1's Doctors.
Kate Rowland, BBC Creative Director of New Writing, who set up BBC Writersroom explains: "Our aim at BBC Writersroom is to find the writing stars of tomorrow and nurture the best young talent out there.
"We want to hear different and untold perspectives on the reality of modern Britain -and young people from NCH projects can provide just that.
"But this collaboration with NCH also provides a chance for professional writers to use their talents in a different and extremely rewarding way.
They will be opening young people's eyes to talents they never knew they had, and offering them an insight into the opportunities available within the creative industries."
Armando Iannucci, writer of "The Thick of It" commented: "I can't imagine a day without writing and think that all young people should be given the opportunity to express themselves creatively.
"It's great that the BBC Writersroom is bringing together successful TV writers to help give NCH's young people the tools to develop their skills."
