Celebrate World Book Night with Rastamouse - Brent Council

A way
with
words
Brent Adult and Community Education
Service (BACES) provides education to adults
across the borough. Their aims is ‘to broaden
minds, create opportunities and change the
lives of individuals and communities in Brent.’
Helping them achieve that is creative writing
tutor John Paul O’Neill.
ALL IN Aday’s work
Every Monday John Paul O’Neill teaches creative writing to a
group of men aged between 50 and 93 who live in St Mungo’s
care home in South Kilburn.The two-hour session is more than
just a tutorial on how to write, it’s also a way of the students
increasing their confidence and learning about themselves.
“They’re fantastic guys,” he says. “I really enjoy teaching them.
Since I started a year ago I’ve seen many changes in them and
their confidence has definitely grown.Writing is something they
can feel good about and is a way of them expressing the positive
things in their lives. It’s very different to some of the other sessions
I take, but one I get a great amount of pleasure from.”
John Paul has worked for BACES for 11 years. He currently
teaches three creative writing classes and GCSE English sessions.
“We cater for everyone from serious writers to people who
come along because they enjoy the company and interaction
with others,” he says. “My classes tend to be very mixed. In one
GCSE English class we’ve been looking at Romeo and Juliet; when
you’ve got teenagers and people in their 60s giving their views on a
play it’s certainly interesting and really benefits the students.
“The most important thing isn’t that students end up being
the best and most polished writers, but that they produce the
best work they are capable of.”
BACES offer a range of courses in everything from accounting
to yoga.
For more information about available courses visit
www.brent.gov.uk/baces or call 020 8937 3960.
MARCH 2011 THE BRENT MAGAZINE
25