Poetry, Workshops, Access Support
Hi, I’m Sallyanne - a poet, arts facilitator and access support worker in the Black Country, England. I help disabled and neurodivergent artists to secure funding to develop their work and deliver creative projects. I also run arts workshops and offer editorial feedback and mentoring.
With more than 25 years of experience in delivering services and projects in different arenas, I’ll help you to plan and deliver your application / project / creative aims through collaborative problem solving with calm, encouraging support. As part of my practice of creative community, I offer one free hour of funding support or poetry mentoring every month, priority to disabled artists and writers, just get in touch to request it.
If you’d like to work with me, I’d love to hear from you.
About me
My own creative focus is poetry, and as an early-stage visual artist I’m exploring ways to connect these two worlds. My debut pamphlet Salt & Metal is published with Fawn Press, and you can buy a copy of this and my other publications here. Sign up for my newsletter at the bottom of this page to find out about upcoming events and get early booking links for poetry workshops.
Creativity helps us find our place in the world and I believe the act of creating should be available to everyone. The reality is that structural barriers prevent access to arts and being creative in many different ways. I work to remove these barriers, making way for people to discover and develop their own creative practice. I do this by supporting disabled and neurodivergent artists to make funding applications and deliver ongoing projects, and by running craft and creative writing sessions.
My sessions with individuals and groups are gentle spaces to process our experiences and foster our creative desires. I provide a variety of different tools to ease the burden of grant and project admin, freeing you up to create.
Work with me
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“Fantastic Sall thank you! Really excellent helpful process. I actually would not have done it without you - it’s amazing what support can do. Thank you for being calm and clear and passionate about the work.”
Finding your way around a funding application can be scary, or feel impossible. Working with your specific access needs, I help you put your ideas into words, navigate online forms, and even liaise with organisations on your behalf. I can also provide ongoing support to help you deliver your project.
I’ve supported dozens of artists working in all sorts of art forms to submit funding applications and implement successful projects. I work via various funding routes including DYCP, NLPG and the Access to Work scheme, as well as smaller arts organisations and funding bodies.
We can work together online or in-person, depending on your location. Many organisations such as Arts Council England (ACE) will cover some or all of the costs.
If you need support applying for funding or to deliver a project, please get in touch to find out how it works.
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“This space was truly lovely, a new type of poetry space for me where language choice was really explored and challenged. I felt completely refreshed by the experience.”
I lead workshops for seasoned writers as well as people with only a little knowledge of poetry, and varying levels of English literacy. I work with all kinds of groups and age ranges, and each workshop is tailored to the experience and needs of the group.
Workshops can be delivered online or in person, depending on your location and budget. Drop me a line to find out more.
Prices start at £150
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“Sallyanne pays close attention to what you’re looking to achieve in your writing. Her notes are encouraging, thorough and inspiring and I’d recommend her to anyone looking to improve their practice.”
Take the next step on your poetry path - I’ll help you to develop your work with feedback and editing suggestions on individual poems or a manuscript. Or opt for one to one mentoring where I’ll help you to grow your creative practice, as well as offering practical advice on getting your work in front of an audience.
We can work together online or in person, depending on your location. An idea of pricing is below, but please get in touch to discuss your specific requirements.
One off - £150
Written feedback or annotations on up to 6 poems (max. 60 lines per poem) plus a 1 hour online meeting
Block of 4 - £500
Written feedback or annotations on up to 12 poems in total (max. 60 lines per poem) plus 4 × 1 hour online meetings
In writing only - £100
Written feedback or annotations on up to 6 poems (max. 60 lines per poem)
Manuscript Assessment: Pamphlet - £300
Written feedback or annotations on up to 25 pages of poetry (max. 1200 lines) plus a 1.5 hour online meeting
Manuscript Assessment: Full collection - £600
Written feedback or annotations on up to 60 pages of poetry (max 1500 lines) plus a 1.5 hour online meeting
Discounts and payment plans
If you’re on a low/no income, please get in touch with me to discuss discounted rates and payment plans. I also offer one free mentoring hour every month as part of my practice of creative community. Please get in touch to request a spot, priority to disabled artists.
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“I recommend Sallyanne to anyone working on any funding application. She is calm, understanding and thorough.”
Review of your draft funding application with written feedback. Price depends on length of application, but an idea is below:
ACE DYCP, or other short applications (2-3 pages) - £75
ACE NLPG Under £30k, or other medium length applications (3-6 pages) - £100
ACE NLPG Over £30-100k, or other longer applications (7+ pages) - from £150
Discounts and payment plans
If you’re on a low/no income, please get in touch with me to discuss discounted rates and payment plans. I also offer one free hour of funding support every month, as part of my practice of creative community. Please get in touch to request a spot, priority to disabled artists.
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“Sall’s relaxed, person-centred approach makes every session feel welcoming and meaningful, no matter the setting. She brings not only talent, but a genuine sense of joy that lifts everyone she works with.”
Collaging is an easy and mindful craft that everyone can get involved in. It’s a low-demand, low cost practice that works all sorts of settings.
Using a variety of found materials, I’ll gently guide the group in cutting, ripping and sticking paper to create unique visual art pieces such as pictures, coasters and zines.
Prices start from £120 for a 1 hour session, within 10 miles of Stourbridge.
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I’ll collaborate with your organisation to create a poem to let people know who you are, or to mark an anniversary/event.
Or perhaps you’re looking for a poem as a gift, or to find the right words for a special occasion.
Please get in touch to discuss pricing, as this will vary depending on the timeframe and nature of the commission.
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“Sall took the time to really get to know us, our background, what makes us tick, and turned all of that into words that actually sound like us. Now we’ve got website copy that fits our industry, reflects who we are, and will bring in the right people. A wonderful storyteller and creative. We couldn’t be happier! Thank you…”
The right words make a big impact. I can help you reach your audience through blogging, website content, promotional materials and bespoke poetry.
If you’re a creative organisation, community group or small business that supports and promotes the arts, I’d love to put my words to work for you.
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Whilst we are in time of huge financial crisis, I believe is vital to pay artists fairly. My rates are based on calculations by the Artists’ Union England and the Freelance Ready Reckoner.
I understand my rates may not be accessible to everyone due to structural barriers. If you’re on a low/no income, I welcome you contacting me to discuss discounted rates and payment plans.
I also offer one free hour of funding support or poetry mentoring every month as part of my practice of creative community. Please get in touch to request a spot, priority to disabled artists.
Testimonials
“Sallyanne works with great patience and empathy and made what seem like an impossible task for me very doable indeed...I look forward to working with her again!”
- Gommie, poet and visual artist
“Working with Sallyanne made all the difference in me successfully completing my DYCP project, rather than struggling to get it done at all. From our very first conversation, Sallyanne listened carefully, heard what I needed, and continued to listen and adapt to my needs throughout the 6 months that we worked together. Sallyanne provided access support that was always reliable and encouraging, prompting me when I needed, celebrating my achievements, and allowing me to bring my full self to our interactions.”
- Oluwatosin Daniju, photographer and archivist
“The vibe was so uplifting and joyful and cheeky (positive). I loved being able to go to something queer crip related and not have to feel sad or angry but instead just feel light and like I was having fun. thank you :) it was also so so inspiring on a writing front and I learnt some really useful writing skills, thank you!”
- Poetry workshop participant, eff-able anthology
“Requesting Sallyanne's help as I attempted to navigate a large, complex ACE funding bid was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Usually I feel like peeling my own skin off rather than attempting funding bids; previous attempts have left me demotivated and exhausted, but with Sallyanne's help I was able to not only make it to the end of the application process, but to do so in good time, and to the absolute best of my abilities. She kept me accountable, aided me in moving things forward and was always on hand to help me find a way through a process that can be daunting at best, debilitating at worst. I would recommend her to anyone.”
- Wendy Pratt, author and editor
"Sallyanne is a beautiful shining light of creativity in a dark storm, kinda like a lighthouse that guided me closer to home by finding my own voice."
- Poetry workshop participant
“When I found out that I was eligible for funding for a support worker to help me with a DYCP, I reached out to Sallyanne. I'm so pleased that I did. She steered me through the very challenging process and I can't praise her highly enough for her patience, knowledge and professionalism of the Arts Council grant system. She soothed my nerves and made the whole experience uplifting. I highly recommend her services.”
- Raine Geoghegan, poet, prose writer and playwright
“I recommend Sallyanne to anyone working on any funding application, she is calm, understanding and thorough. Sallyanne and I scheduled weekly calls to work on the DYCP application. Her support was invaluable. The meetings allowed me to focus and tackle the application stress-free. Her guidance through the process and especially Grantium avoided confusions and misunderstanding; I now feel that I have crafted my best application for funding. Thanks again Sallyanne!”
- Éloïse Armary-O’Dwyer, poet and artivist
A few of the organisations I’ve worked with:
Creative Future
Writing West Midlands
CHADD
eff-able anthology
Brierley Hill Community Forum
Mary Stevens Hospice
Dorothy Parkes Centre
Zanzo
Drama and SOME
Creative Future Writing West Midlands CHADD eff-able anthology Brierley Hill Community Forum Mary Stevens Hospice Dorothy Parkes Centre Zanzo Drama and SOME
Contact me
Use the form, send an email or follow me on social media. However you choose to get in touch, I’ll respond within 2-3 working days.
If you don’t get a reply please check your spam/junk folder - my replies sometimes end up there.
Newsletter
Keep up with news, publications and workshops. Occasional updates only.
I promise to respect your privacy.
Catch up on previous newsletters here