Bridport Read Easy

The Bridport Literary Festival likes to support local charities when there is a synergy that reflects the written and spoken word.

This year we have supported the work of READ EASY, now a national charity which was founded in Dorset 12 years ago.  They teach adults to read using phonics and by providing each with their own fully trained coach.  Tried and tested texts back up each reading pair with extensive resources – games and stories at each level to encourage and keep things interesting.  Certificates are awarded at each significant goal reached until the eventual celebration of of Graduation.    The pairs – student and coach – meet in  private and at approved safe venues and ours service is completely confidential. Our READ EASY co-ordinator keeps in touch to offer advice and encouragement on a regular basis and there is a literary adviser to call on when necessary.

The provision for this service is completely FREE – the easy reader pays nothing.

READ EASY is a self-funding charity which raises money locally.  ‘We are deeply grateful to BridLit for their generous donations and support. Imagine a life where couldn’t enjoy reading a wonderful book and look forward then to meeting the author at BridLit.’

READ EASY has provided a film to enable everyone to see the kind of work they are achieving on a regular and national basis.

West Bay, A Visual Journey from Bridport Harbour to West Bay.

West Dorset resident and artist, Marion Taylor, is well known for her obsession with Colmer’s Hill, and one of her iconic images has featured on the front cover of the BridLit brochure for many years. As a companion to her first book, One Artist’s Obsession, she has now published West Bay, A Visual Journey from Bridport Harbour to West Bay in the same format. This new publication looks at artists who have been quite literally drawn to paint West Bay, starting with JMW Turner through to contemporary artists such as David Inshaw and Lachlan Goudie. Both books are available as signed copies from The Bookshop on South Street.

BRIDPORT REFUGEE SUPPORT CAMPAIGN

A group of local residents got together in February 2020 to help a refugee family settle in Bridport and rebuild their lives.  The aim of THE BRIDPORT REFUGEE SUPPORT CAMPAIGN is to bring families here under the Home Office Community Sponsorship Scheme, a safe and legal route to resettlement for refugees escaping from countries affected by war, persecution or natural disaster.  A family from  Sudan was chosen by UNHCR for Bridport and arrived here in February 2022 and they have settled happily into Bridport life. At the same time, Ukrainian refugees also began arriving in Bridport and the BRIDPORT REFUGEE SUPPORT CAMPAIGN found ways to welcome them – particularly by forming a choir and celebrating Ukrainian Independence Day. The family of four from Sudan are supported by a team of volunteers who have joined the Trustees to provide support.  They are not only involved in teaching English to the parents and helping children with their school work, but they also organise trips to see the county and transport to medical appointments. The Support Campaign help to find voluntary work locally in preparation for paid employment and encourages interest in music, dance and sport.

Calling all writers! In conjunction with the Bridport literary Festival!

Writing inspiration and support in Dorset

Once again Jason is running a writing week at Rushay, on the Jurassic Coast, in association with the Bridport Literary Festival.

It’s a two-part course, the weekend workshop and the week of guided writing, where Jason will be joined by two brilliant tutors, festival guest Greg Mosse, and acclaimed travel writer Jeremy Seal.

Greg will be leading the weekend workshop, helping us all put a novel together over the two days. In eight sessions, we’ll address character, plot, suspense, location, and all a novel’s moving parts.

The full week is for the small group of writers who want to stay on at Rushay, with morning tutorials led by Jeremy and Jason, afternoon one-to-ones, lots of time and space to write on your own AND selected visits to hear author talks at the Bridlit Festival! We have a brilliant local chef to prepare our meals, and you won’t have to lift a finger all week, except to hold a pen or open your laptop. 

 
For more details see the website: www.byhillsandthesea.co.uk