news

All this week, Eastside is hosting three highly acclaimed writers and poetry teachers from the Netherlands as part of our European poetry competition Y'Poetry. We are delighted to welcome Ineke Riem, Dasja Koot and Jacques Brooijmans to the UK. The writers have come to London from Amsterdam to run inspirational poetry workshops for Eastside at schools in Bexley, Harrow, Haringey, Lewisham and Redbridge.

We are currently seeking volunteers to assist us with Translation Nation, a project which aims to inspire primary school children to explore literary translation and develop an appetite for international storytelling and a curiosity about world literature. This is a hands-on opportunity to work alongside a translator in London primary schools and requires a minimum commitment of three days (between March-May 2012).

'Going for Gold' is a fun, one-day leadership and personal development programme run by LEAP at Eastside on Saturday 18th February 2012, from 9.30am - 5.30pm. The cost is £75 per person and booking is now open but there are only a limited number of places, so book early. Gift vouchers are available. To book or for more info, contact: BJ Haria on 07780 700 557 or Simon Stillman 07974 393 985.

Translation Nation, our literature in translation project for primary school children, has been featured on Radio 4's 'Word of Mouth' which is hosted by author and poet Michael Rosen. First broadcast on Tuesday 10th January, you have the opportunity to hear the programme broadcast again on Monday 16th January at 11pm for great bedtime listening, or anytime you would like on iplayer.

Get fit for 2012 with our new mat Pilates classes - If your New Year's resolution was to get fit and healthy for 2012, then sign-up now for our mat Pilates classes, every Monday lunchtime from 12:05 - 12:55, starting from Monday 16th January 2012. The Pilates classes are taught by Hope Anderson and will take place at Eastside's Studio; Suite 16 Perseverance Works, 37 Hackney Road, Shoreditch, London E2 7NX.

We are currently inviting job applications from experienced freelance arts facilitators and creative practitioners wishing to run youth arts workshops and teach groups of children and young people in London. There are two parts to our application process: first, send us a short film clip of yourself (2-3 mins max) and then complete our online artists application form. Application period: 1st January - 31st March 2012.

We would like to say a big THANK YOU to Nova Skelton, who recently stepped down from our Board of Trustees. Nova became Eastside's Treasurer and Bookkeeper in 1999 when the Board was formed and has overseen our financial affairs ever since. We thank her for her time, attention to detail and meticulous bookkeeping. Nova will be remembered as a founding member of our Board and we wish her happiness in her retirement.

Eastside has teamed up with School der Poëzie from Amsterdam to present Y-Poetry in London. The project supported by the European Union Culture Programme, gives young people aged 14 - 16 from London schools the opportunity to write poetry about city life inspired by the works of English, Dutch, German and Belgian poets. 300 young people from London are set to welcome the Dutch poetry teachers in February 2012.

Eastside is delighted to welcome four new Trustees to its Board. Our new Trustees are: James Peterson (Executive Director and Senior Client Adviser from UBS Wealth Management), Priyanka D'Souza (Talent Program Project Manager from Royal Bank of Scotland, Global Banking & Markets), Elizabeth Newson (Group Operations Director from Driven Worldwide Limited) and Renata Lima (Barclays Capital and Global Giving).