Archived images of Walsall from the Jack Haddock Collection are being used for creative writing workshops at Walsall Town Hall for this year`s Walsall Makers Fest.

These images. which have been made available to the public thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, are also going to be used for creative writing workshops at the Let`s Chat Community Hubs for Walsall Community Transport.  

A new programme of wellbeing activities is being launched at the Let`s Chat Hubs in Walsall and West Bromwich organised by Walsall Community Transport who are part of Transport for West Midlands and the West Midlands Combined Authority.  

The project aim is to engage residents attending the Let`s Chat Hubs in sharing their personal journeys, memories of travel, migration, holidays, daily commutes and life experiences.  These stories will be transformed into poetry and creative writing that celebrates hope, peace, community and mental wellbeing, culminating in a National Poetry Day launch event on Thursday 1st October.    

"The theme of National Poetry Day this year is Wonder" explained Walsall poet and solicitor Ian Henery, who is leading the creative writing workshops.  "What that translates into is "Wonderous Stories About Wonderful Walsall and West Bromwich".  I aim to create a body of work by local people that will be published into a book to mark the legacy plus a digital library that can be accessed by anybody anywhere so that they can share in these journeys of hope.    

Ian`s previous work includes the Travelling Tales Digital Library with RicNic Arts which is a collection of stories inspired by journeys past, present, future and into imaginary realms.  The project involved working with communities along the Avanti train line from Birmingham to Crewe to collect stories, memories and new writing to offer escapism and entertainment on traveller`s journeys.  Travelling Tales was launched at Grand Central Station in Birmingham last year.  

Collaborative partners include the Walsall Archive for All project, hosts of  the Jack Haddock Collection,  which is being developed with the support of a £249,020 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.  The first collection to be made available focuses on the community transport on Walsall`s  canals and railways.  Walsall Archives have given Ian Henery historic images to use as poetry prompts so that local residents can also discover how these transport networks played a part in everyday life across Walsall.  

"The first collections showcasing Walsall`s canals and railways tell the story of some of the main transport links that helped shape our communities and our identity" said Ian Gray, Walsall Archives.  "As more collections are added over the coming months, this fantastic resource will continue to grow, ensuring that Walsall`s history is preserved, celebrated and shared with future generations".  

The resource material will be used by Ian Henery on 26th September in Walsall Town Hall for Walsall Maker Fest.  Ian will be running free creative writing workshops in advance of the workshops at the Let`s Chat Hubs in the Walsall Town Hall takeover at Walsall Makers Fest 2026.  Ian will also be delivering creative writing workshops at the Lichfield Street Hub for Walsall Archives` Local History Fair based on community travel.    

"I have gathered poetry prompts from Walsall Archives linked to travel and personal stories" explained Ian Henery "and I will then be testing those creative writing workshops that support positive mental health.  This will, in turn, showcase community voices and create a lasting legacy of poems and stories celebrating Walsall and West Bromwich communities."    

Other collaborative partners include Walsall Black Sisters Collective, Walsall Windrush Sisters, Chat and Chai Podcast with Ranjit Khutan and Sundari Maheswaran, Community Matters, Communities Against Racism Enterprise, Willenhall in Focus, Mad Music, Sandwell African Caribbean Mental Health Foundation,  Humanity Media, AcessAbility Arts, The MindKind Projects and Breakwell Paints and ARX Apparel and PPE in Willenhall.  

"Wolverhampton Railway Station recently hosted a week of wellbeing activities to mark World Suicide Prevention Day" explained Ian Henery "and I was interested to see what they were doing with Rethink Mental Illness at the Wolverhampton Mental Health Hub.  They  also included poetry, art and music in collaboration with chartities from across the Black Country.  In addition to offering one-to-one support, information and signposting there was also an exhibition of artwork, poetry and photography that was on display throughout the week."  

The outcomes I am looking to achieve is open conversations about mental health, partnership working, holistic and person-centered suppor, creativity - and most importantly - giving hope to those who need it.  The workshops are going to be open for a drop in and a safe space for all, there is going to be lots of activities and we are honoured to have so many groups and services working with and supporting us."