The Outsiders Project

19/12/2025

27/11/2025

This week The Outsiders Project hosted the first Writers on Writing session at TOSH with author

Emma began the evening with a talk about her writing journey, followed by a Q and A, then led a workshop on editing which everyone found incredibly helpful. It was a great start to the series and a really inspiring evening.

The next session in January will be with novelist and theatre maker Kate Beales. Booking details will follow.

The Outsiders Project runs free creative workshops in writing and photography for people whose voices have not been heard.

01/11/2025

Incredible work and a beautiful representation of our writers words. Thanks for bringing it to life Tech Moon 🙌

‘Who was I before life fell as dusk upon sea,
and waves unwrapped me?’

In collaboration with BCP Council and The Outsiders Project

This was a great project where artists were connected to local poets in creating a series of new murals that are inspired by their quotes.

Mine was written by the talented Lisa Rivers and was a pleasure to design for.

Location: East of Boscombe pier

17/10/2025

Last night we said goodbye to TATTOO with a beautifully heartfelt performance at .

First created in 2021 by the incredible , TATTOO has undergone many transformations, friends lost and found, team changes and relaunches to reach its final form.

We are honoured to have shared our stories with you, and are grateful to each and every person who sat and listened over the years. It’s time for those words to take their place in the archives- buried once more under ink and time.

For now, we head back into the writing room to make something new… watch this space.

09/10/2025

Don’t miss the last chance to see Tattoo being performed at Forest Arts, New Milton, on Thursday, 16th October.

Every tattoo has a story, and these have never been heard before.
With stories from prison, the depths of addiction and recovery rooms - we tell the stories buried under ink and time.

Tattoo is a collection of first person stories performed by artists with extraordinary lived experience - a performance truly celebrating unheard voices.

Link to tickets in bio.

Expect strong language, uncensored stories and brilliant writing.
Age range: 16+ .andthebear

09/09/2025

The Outsiders Project: Writing Workshops ✍️

Join us at TOSH this September (W/C 8th Sept) as we return with our FREE writing workshops, led by trained outsider artists.

Weekly:
Mondays 11.30am-1pm, led by Debbie
Tuesdays 6pm-8pm, led by Neil

Bi-weekly:
Wednesdays (LGBTQ+) 5pm-7pm, led by Allie & Charlie

Please reach out via [email protected] to enquire about participation criteria.

No experience necessary!

06/08/2025

Our brilliant workshop leaders Neil and Debbie were on Hope FM this evening talking about the project, reading their work, and discussing our recent anthology collaboration with Bournemouth University and Brad Gyori.

If you missed it you can listen again here 👇

07:00PM Wed Aug 06

03/08/2025

We’ve been working on a little something in the background…

Super excited to get my hands on the new anthology from the Bournemouth Journal's new outreach series featuring The Outsiders Project which was released yesterday. Congratulations to the writers and team at Bournemouth University, led by Brad Gyori. Very pleased to play a very small part in the creation of this publication through the Bournemouth Writing Festival's partnership with the 2025 Bournemouth Writing Prize.

Here's the info from Brad:

The Bournemouth Journal and BU’s MA in Creative Writing and Publishing degree are pleased to announce the publication of our first Outreach Anthology, “Home,” featuring stories and poems by the Outsiders Project. Donations submitted to the 2025 Bournemouth Writing Prize went to this Dorset-based writing and theatre organization. The Outsiders Project is dedicated to showing how people sidelined from society can write, perform, and create work at the highest level. Their artists push boundaries and produce work of outstanding quality and worth.

Print-on-demand copies of “Home” can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FG9KYBTP?psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp

Works from “Home” will be read this Wednesday 6th of August at 7pm on Hope FM. Livewire host CW Blackburn will welcome Brad back into the studio along with Debbie James, and Neil Benad of the Outsiders Project who will be reading their work.

03/06/2025

Every tattoo has a story and these have never been heard before.

TATTOO is a collection of first person stories written and performed by our extraordinary outsider artists.

We are the voice of the unheard.

Join us this week, Thurs 5th June, 8pm-9.15pm, .

Expect strong language, uncensored stories and brilliant writing.

📸 Image credit: