Gain Your Own Ministerial Appointment
November 17, 2011
We’re a voluntary organisation; we have generous supporters but not enough money to do everything we dream of doing to help young people with their writing. To help us go from strength to strength, we have launched a grand sale of Ministerial Appointments, for individuals who share our passion for creating a nation of young storytellers.
In our first year, we’ve seen the difference that a supportive, encouraging writing mentor can make, working one to one with a young person to help them express their ideas. Over 2700 young people have come through the secret door in Hoxton Street Monster Supplies for writing workshops, and thrived on the experience. As 9 year old Michelle put it, “The Ministry of Stories gave me the courage to write and read more. When I held the book in my hand it made me feel independent and older.” Ruksana, age 14, said, “I felt proud and excited coming back every week. Happy that we were doing something different.”
We now need help to build on this for years to come, and establish a home for writing in this neighbourhood and further afield.
Colin Firth, Minister for Fluency, said, “When you buy one of their tins of fear, or jars of brain jam, you don’t just get a great stocking filler or something to liven up your breakfast table, you know that you’re helping to support the business of the imagination with the next generation.”
Alain de Botton, Minister for Literary Pleasures and Sorrows, said, “The ability to master stories – to tell one’s own and to understand those of others – is not a luxury, not a pleasant pastime when everything else has been done. It’s right at the heart of what it means to be a functioning, civilised society. With wit, creativity and energy, the Ministry of Stories is helping society to feel less scared, less isolated and less angry, in short, more human.”
Could you join Alain and Colin, and take up a role at the Ministry? However much you’re able to donate, your support goes a long way.
- £160 covers the costs for one child to take part in a week-long publishing project
- £400 covers the costs of a writing workshop for a class of 30 children
- £960 pays for one child to attend our drop-in writing sessions for a year
- £2000 pays for a week-long special project, such as our Hoxton A.M. newspaper writing project
- £5000 pays for a whole-class book-publishing project, such as The Awfully Bad Guide to Monster Housekeeping
For three-figure donations, positions are available in our Stationery Department, and for donations of £1000 and above, you can create a more literary role, such as the Minister for Rightful Comeuppances, or Chancellor for Cyberpunk. These jobs entail no actual responsibilities whatsoever, just the satisfaction of knowing your donation has helped us to get off to a flying start.
For each year of their tenure, Ministers receive:
- a copy of that year’s major publication of children’s writing
- an invitation to two exclusive annual events to see the difference your donation has made
- entry to quarterly events with great line-ups of writers, musicians and other special guests
- a regular e-newsletter to keep you updated about our work
- an official Ministerial Deed of Appointment.
To donate to the Ministry of Stories and acquire a title, for yourself or as a gift, please visit our Just Giving page, or send a cheque to us at 159 Hoxton Street, London N1 6PJ. For any questions, please email donate@ministryofstories.org.
