Inkhead are a group of writers who run creative writing workshops for children age 8 to 14 in South East London. Classes are held on Saturdays at Crystal Palace library and in Highclere Street, Sydenham. They also run after-school clubs and week-long holiday courses.

The emphasis is on encouraging children to write their own stories through using fun writing exercises and the results have been astonishing. Parents have reported a knock-on effect with improved exam results, literacy levels and general confidence and the children really enjoy the workshops.

An eight-year-old boy won a national writing competition, another girl had her six-word story published in an anthology, and the workshops have performed plays in their assemblies and to their parents.

"When I started the company my aim was to show children the skills I had learnt in the creative writing MA I did at Goldsmiths," said Louise Pearce, who set up the company three years ago. "Things like how to develop characters or use description. We are taught to write essays in school, but not how to write fiction and the two ways of writing are very different."

All the teachers at inkhead are published writers with teaching experience who are passionate about the written word and want to share their enthusiasm with children.

"It is great fun," said Louise. "The kids in our workshops are always amazed at how quickly an hour goes by. I have had children who have been coming to my workshops every Saturday for the past three years - I don't think I can have a higher recommendation than that."

For more information phone Louise Pearce on 0208 778 0182 or log on to www.inhead.co.uk