The Power of Voice
Discover our social action writing programme, supported by Audible, that empowers young people to share the stories that matter to them with a real audience and to drive change.
About the programme
Our Children and Young People’s Writing in 2023 research showed that 1 in 7 children and young people aged 8 to 18 write to support causes and issues they care about or because it makes them feel connected to the world. This delivered a clear mandate to provide more opportunities for children to engage with this type of writing, delivering a programme that supports schools to develop social action literacy projects for their students.
The Power of Voice aims to empower young people to tell the stories that matter to them, harnessing the power of writing to share stories and experiences with a real audience and drive change. The programme encourages participating young people to explore their civic identities and use their own voices (including home languages and dialects).
Across six weeks, a group of selected professional ‘change-maker’ authors turn classrooms into dynamic environments for debating and exchanging ideas. The programme culminates in the publication of a celebratory digital zine and an online celebration event.
Get involved
This project is aimed at KS3 classes ( Years 7 to 9) with a particular focus on reluctant writers from state schools which have above the national average for pupils eligible for free school meals (25.7%)
Please register to express your interest in The Power of Voice programme for 2026 (Spring - Summer term).
If you have questions, please contact sharenalee.satti@literacytrust.org.uk
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Impact and outcomes
Explore the creative and profound writing produced by students in previous years in our Power of Voice Digital Zine.
The Power of Voice has given some students within our focus groups a power that they didn’t realise they had. All too often, a focus on writing with any kind of academic observations creates parameters for students to quantify their success by the measure of the curriculum they’re working in. This project has given them a freedom to find their voice and recognise the creative potential that they have. It’s been pretty inspirational for the staff, too.
Teacher
Schools will receive
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Three author-led workshops
The authors selected will have a relevant writing practice and represent the communities that make up the schools.
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Resources pack
Including a teacher handbook with lesson plans.
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Social action reading list
Including free Audible titles relevant to the programme focus.
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Student assembly guidance
A guide for setting up a social action school assembly for students to share their work with a live audience of peers.
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Publication opportunities
A chance for students to be published in a celebratory digital zine as well as the opportunity to record audio for the zine in a professional recording studio.
Our partner
The Power of Voice programme is delivered in partnership with Audible.
