In this section you can find information on resources that might help you if you are interested in pursuing a career as a writer or want to identify organisations that may be able to help you find resources to run literary projects.

New Writing North

The North East has a regional agency that offers advice and career development opportunities to writers and which promotes and produces projects that enhance the literary scene in the region.  The organisation also runs the Northern Writers' Awards, an annual programme of awards for both established and emerging writers. It runs a very good bi-weekly e-newsletter News for Writers, which you can subscribe to for free.

Find out more at www.newwritingnorth.com

Northern Film and Media

Northern Film & Media is the Regional Screen Agency for the North East of England. Written a script or screenplay and wondering what to do with it next? Want media careers or training advice, or interested in knowing more about the locations the North East has to offer?

For more information: www.northernmedia.org

Literature Training

This useful website and organisation takes a national view of training issues for writes and offers lots of advice and links to job and work opportunities, information on professional development and listings.  It runs a very good e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to for free.

For more information: www.literaturetraining.com

Writer's Guild of Great Britain

The WGGB is the national union for professional and student writers across all forms of writing.  The union negotiates rates of pay, offers legal and professional advice to writers and can offer support with contractual issues. Membership is varied and begins with student membership.

For more information: www.writersguild.org.uk

Society of Authors

The Society of Authors is an organisation, which has been presenting the rights of authors for many years.  The organisation is mainly for novelists, biographers and children's writers.  The Society publishes a member's magazine, The Author; offer professional advice to members on issues with agents, publishers and the like. 

For more information: www.societyofauthors.org

Arts Council England

Arts Council England promotes Great Art for Everybody and through it's Grants for the Arts Lottery Scheme makes available grants for writers and literary projects.  The best place to start is their website, which describes the national organisation and offers links to the regional office (the North East office is in Newcastle).  At the time of writing the Literature Officer for the North East office is Rachael Ogden. Make sure that you read the Regional Priorities section of the site to ensure that your project fits within the realm of work that the Arts Council is interested in funding and make contact with your local office before embarking on the application.

For more information: www.artscouncil.org.uk

The Royal Literary Fund

The Royal Literary Fund is a British benevolent fund for professional published authors in financial difficulties. The RLF has been continuously helping authors since it was set up in 1790. It is funded by bequests and donations from writers who wish to help other writers. Its committee members come from all walks of literary life and include novelists, biographers, poets, publishers, lawyers and agents.

For more information: www.rlf.org.uk

Awards for All

Awards for All England are supported by the Arts Council England, the Big Lottery Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England. They award grants of between £300 and £10,000 for people to take part in art, sport, heritage and community activities, and projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community.

For more information: www.awardsforall.org.uk

Trusts and Charitable Foundations

There are many local trusts and foundations which offer financial support for community projects and events in the North East of England.  One of the best ways to find out about what's available in your local area is to search down a copy of the Directory of Social Change's Guide to Local Trusts in the North, (which you should be able to find via your local library if you can't afford to buy a copy yourself). Click here to purchase the guide

Arts Council England North East also has a good e-newsletter that you can subscribe to which often carries funding news from other organisations. Click here for more information

Funding Information North East

Provides funding information services on behalf of CVSs and RCCs to support the voluntary sector in the North East of England.

For more information: www.fine.org.uk

Tees Valley Arts

TVA is an arts development agency, which works to inspire people and change futures through the arts. 

For more information: www.teesvalleyarts.org.uk

Local authorities

• Stockton Borough Council
  
• Darlington Borough Council
  
• Hartlepool Council
  
• Redcar and Cleveland
  
• Middlesbrough Council