As writer in residence in several Liverpool Schools, Jacqui has introduced pupils to, not only her own work, but also the work of a diverse range of poets. Through the workshop experience, she encourages pupils to write their own poems, for recital in inter-form poetry slams, or submission for inclusion in an in-house chapbook, which Jacqui compiles and edits. Nothing motivates children more than the chance to perform, or see their name in print.  Below an example of a chapbook compiled and edited by Jacqui while writer in residence at West Derby Boys School in Liverpool. Copyright of all below belongs to the individual authors and appears by kind permission of West Derby Comprehensive School.

Examples from within:

My Mum

Child carer
Clean liver
Dirt hater
Present giver
Tea drinker
Trouble listener
Room checker
Germ killer
Healthy eater
Slow walker
Fast sleeper

My Sister

School hater
Mess maker
Doll lover
Girl talker
Toy sharer
Slow runner
Fast drinker
Long chatterer
Pain giver
Toy breaker
Plate wreaker
Animal liker
©Lewis Roberts

School yard fight

The crowd built up around me, eager for a fight
Like bloodthirsty animals all after a bite
But what if it hurt, adrenaline hadn’t kicked in
My hands shaking, as cold as tin
Around the corner another gang appears
Followed by a sequence of violent cheers
Where are the teachers, can’t they see
What do they care more about, biscuits or me?
He came at me steaming, fuelled with rage
Like a terrified rhino out of its cage
I was bloody scared and didn’t know what to do
So I turned and ran...Well, wouldn’t you?           ©Jack Yeomans