Former Actress/singer/WAG turned author Michelle Gayle was in Halton this week to try and inspire teenagers to aspire to use their imaginations.
The multi-talented 90s pin-up bucks the trend having a very successful acting and singing career before marrying a footballer - and continued her career being about to publish her first novel.
She ran workshops at Halton Lea Library on Wednesday 18 November in partnership with The Reading Agency to encourage encourage young women to think about becoming writers rather than footballers’ wives.
‘Pride and Premiership,’ was designed to show young women, that they can use their intellect and natural passion to achieve what they want and inspire them to develop a love for reading and creative writing.
Michelle, perhaps most famous for her role as Hattie in Eastenders and her hit ‘Sweetness’, pioneered the project after she discovered that many girls in secondary education only aspire to be a WAG.
The workshops are based around a novel Michelle has written on this subject and will be held in an area of Halton Lea Library designed by local teenagers, as part of The Reading Agency’s successful ‘Headspace’ initiative.
Girls from several schools are attending. During the first they were introduced to Michelle’s novel and encouraged to discuss some of the issues raised in the opening chapters.
The girls will then continue their own version of the novel using Blackberries, and develop their own writing using this technology, before presenting it in the second workshop on Tuesday 24 November.
They will also be encouraged to share their work on www.groupthing.org, The Reading Agency's social network for young people based around reading, writing and creativity.
Michelle said: "It is fantastic to work with young women in Halton and work together to see what they can achieve. It is great to be able to do something constructive to help."
The multi-talented 90s pin-up bucks the trend having a very successful acting and singing career before marrying a footballer - and continued her career being about to publish her first novel.
She ran workshops at Halton Lea Library on Wednesday 18 November in partnership with The Reading Agency to encourage encourage young women to think about becoming writers rather than footballers’ wives.
‘Pride and Premiership,’ was designed to show young women, that they can use their intellect and natural passion to achieve what they want and inspire them to develop a love for reading and creative writing.
Michelle, perhaps most famous for her role as Hattie in Eastenders and her hit ‘Sweetness’, pioneered the project after she discovered that many girls in secondary education only aspire to be a WAG.
The workshops are based around a novel Michelle has written on this subject and will be held in an area of Halton Lea Library designed by local teenagers, as part of The Reading Agency’s successful ‘Headspace’ initiative.
Girls from several schools are attending. During the first they were introduced to Michelle’s novel and encouraged to discuss some of the issues raised in the opening chapters.
The girls will then continue their own version of the novel using Blackberries, and develop their own writing using this technology, before presenting it in the second workshop on Tuesday 24 November.
They will also be encouraged to share their work on www.groupthing.org, The Reading Agency's social network for young people based around reading, writing and creativity.
Michelle said: "It is fantastic to work with young women in Halton and work together to see what they can achieve. It is great to be able to do something constructive to help."
