Spread the Word launches £15k Early Career Bursaries for London writers

Spread the Word has announced a new bursary programme to help London writers on low incomes. 

The Early Career Bursaries were made possible by a philanthropic gift from donors Sam and Rosie Berwick. Writers Tice Cin, Jeffrey Boakye, Luan Goldie and Dr Mark Blacklock will judge the programme, which will see three bursaries of £15,000 each given out every year.

The focus of the bursaries is on unagented and unpublished London writers of narrative non-fiction and commercial and literary fiction who are on a low income and are working on a writing project or have a developed idea for a new project.

The bursaries will see £10,000 awarded as cash and £5,000 towards talent development, including mentoring. There is no obligation for bursary recipients to create an end product.

Sam and Rosie Berwick, said: “We are so lucky to be able to help the fabulous Spread the Word in this new project to give writers a little bit more of the time and space needed to create art, and we look forward with excitement to helping this group of early writers grow their talent and career opportunities.”

Ruth Harrison, Spread the Word director, added: “Spread the Word is delighted to be able to launch this fantastic opportunity to London writers on a low income on the day that the new London Living Wage is announced. When you are at the beginning of your career creating time to write, and sustaining your life while doing so, is a priority. We are grateful to Sam and Rosie Berwick for identifying the clear need to support early career writers on a low income, particularly given the current cost of living crisis, providing them with the support, space and money to develop their stories and build connections and community.”

Cin said: “It’s an honour to be a judge for the Early Career Bursaries. I cite the wisdom of people like Kit de Waal who once said that resilience shouldn’t be one of the most celebrated traits of the working class writer, as it is over-glorified and comes through unnecessary struggle. We need to have more opportunities like the Early Career Bursaries that offer sustained support for low income writers from underrepresented communities.”

Spread the Word and Sam and Rosie Berwick said they “welcome a wider conversation with the publishing industry, philanthropists and funders on the need for philanthropic support for writers and equitable and accessible early career interventions to address the systemic barriers faced by writers on a low income in creating work and progressing a creative career”. 

Applications for entries are open from 10am on 22nd September until 12pm on 1st November 2022.