Overview
Open Book is a charity which runs accessible shared reading and creative writing sessions across Scotland for a diverse range of community and public participants, and we’re looking to start some new creative writing groups to broaden our reach.
What we’re looking for
We would like to find new communities to serve with Open Book sessions. We’re looking for five new Lead Readers to pilot new Open Book groups based in Scotland with populations or in geographical locations we don’t currently serve. Each of the pilot groups will run for five sessions between September 2026 – February 2027. We’re particularly looking to increase our support of multicultural groups in Scotland but other than that we’re looking for your suggestions of places and populations for a new Open Book group.
Open Book is looking to offer new communities the chance to enjoy the relaxed, inclusive space of a creative writing session. ‘Communities’ could mean your local area, or it could mean people with a shared identity, experience or interest. We want you to be connected to the community who will attend your group, and to have a good understanding of how shared reading and creative writing could work for them.
In Open Book creative writing sessions, guided by the Lead Reader, the group will read short poems/stories together and use them as a springboard to create new pieces of their own (writing individually and sometimes as a group).
As an organisation Open Book is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. Specifically, we are looking for proposals to work with a population or in a location that we don’t currently support, and will give priority to groups which focus on under-served communities. You can find a list of groups that we’re currently running here.
As part of your application, we’re asking you to link up with a host organisation – the place where you’ll hold your sessions or a partner organisation that supports the community you’d like to work with. This could be a library, a community centre, a theatre, a charity, a bookshop…you’ll know what support your community needs, and where your community will feel most confident attending.
We’re also open to one or two of these groups operating online via Zoom, if that’s the right fit.
Fees
The fee for running each of the five pilot sessions is £220. We will also support training costs at a rate of £30 per hour for up to 5 hours.
Being a Lead Reader
Open Book will provide a budget for supplies required to run sessions and will support Lead Readers with a choice of reading materials for use in sessions. You’ll receive training in the Open Book model, and have access to administrative support from the team. We’ll support you with posters and other things you need to let people know about your pilot group, and help advertise your sessions through our social media channels. Part of your role will be working with your host organisation to publicise the group within your community.
Creative Writing groups meet for two hours on roughly a monthly basis. At the end of the pilot, Open Book will meet with you to evaluate how it’s gone and discuss possible next steps.
Please note: to keep all participants safe and comply with legal requirements, successful applicants will be required to complete an application to join the PVG scheme. The costs of this will be met by Open Book who will handle the application process: https://www.mygov.scot/pvg-scheme
How to Apply
- Find a host organisation – this will be the venue where you hold your sessions, or in the case of an online group, an organisation that will pair with you to reach the right participants. If you know the community would prefer to access the sessions online, you can put that in the application form.
- Prepare a CV which highlights your relevant experience, including your professional writing experience. We’re looking for Creative Writing Lead Readers with an equivalent level of publication experience as required for Scottish Book Trust’s Author Database.
- Complete this application form by 12pm on Monday 25 May. Please note in the application how your proposal fills a gap in our current provision – either in geography or in participant populations. The form will also allow you to upload your CV.
- If you’d like to submit a short video clip of a minute or so in support of your application (in addition to the application form) then please do so.
What happens next?
After the closing date, the Open Book team will look at all the applications and contact the host organisations of the shortlisted candidates. We may also arrange a chat with you via Zoom to discuss the pilot and your ideas. In previous years this opportunity has been very competitive – don’t let this discourage you but please bear with us if it takes a little longer to hear back than you expected.
Successful candidates will be contacted to organise training, and help work out the next steps for setting up your sessions.
Key dates
Closing Date: 12pm Monday 25 May
First sessions to take place by the end of September 2026.
Click here to access the application form
Don’t forget, if you have any questions or concerns, you can contact us at amy@openbookreading.com