Goldsmiths' 500 Writers: Working in Bradford to grow a love of writing
“The second I start writing it feels like I’m carried away to a magical world.” For many pupils taking part in the Goldsmiths’ 500 Writers programme – an ambitious three-year writing initiative, funded by a grant from the Goldsmiths’ Foundation Landmark programme – that sense of awe and wonder begins the moment they step into a new place, like Bradford Cathedral, and discover how the world around them can spark their imagination.
Watch this short film to see how the Goldsmiths’ 500 Writers programme is working with partners in Bradford to improve the literacy skills of more than 1,000 primary school aged children living in disadvantaged communities across the city.
Bradford is the fifth most income-deprived local authority in England, with 22% of children living below the poverty line. Pupils across the city are behind the national average in reading and writing attainment, with those from disadvantaged communities falling furthest behind.
That’s why the National Literacy Trust (NLT) have been working in the city for over a decade: building strong partnerships with local schools, cultural venues, and community organisations to help change the story.
Designed for children at the critical transition from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2, this three-year initiative supports over 1,000 pupils across 21 primary schools in Bradford, helping them build confidence, develop their literacy skills, and find joy in writing.
Goldsmiths’ 500 Writers offers six fully funded visits to Bradford’s cultural and heritage sites, creating meaningful opportunities to write beyond the classroom. Teachers are already seeing the impact: pupils are inspired to write, and their academic progress is improving as a result.
The NLTs latest research with Oxford University Press highlighted how children’s enjoyment of writing can grow when they have more assessment-free opportunities to write — and that’s exactly what this programme is all about.
Immersive, community-driven experiences like this give children the space to experiment, discover their voice, and see their writing celebrated in their own city.