Oscar winners to read stories by Yorkshire children - Deborah Bullivant, Grimm and Co

Remember those stories you wrote as a child? Imagine the feeling if something you wrote was read or performed by an Oscar-winning film star. Or a famous author or familiar face from television.

Grimm and Co is a writing charity for children and young people. It champions the writer in everyone. It's richly imaginative and a joyful hub for creative adventures. An 'apothecary to the magical.'

Founding CEO Deborah Bullivant joined me for a radio interview today to unveil details of its virtual gala - an extravaganza of stories, poems, and songs - in May.

Academy Award winning actors Gary Oldman and Olivia Colman, and other 'leading lights from across the arts' including Joanne Harris and Mark Gatiss will perform some of the incredible work produced by young people who have taken part in the charity’s free writing workshops.

Deborah and her team of staff and volunteers are inspirational, and I don't say so lightly.

The work they do with children and young people 'changes lives, one story at a time.'

In this episode Deborah covers:

• Who else is involved in Grimm and Co's Here Not There gala which will showcase stories, poems and songs created by children and young people from across Yorkshire,
• How Grimm & Co is continuing to give folk magical and creative adventures even amidst the challenges we face now,
• Its strategies for resilience and its future plans for expansion into a magical new centre in the heart of Rotherham,
• Some book recommendations.

I loved hearing from Deborah and I hope this interview warms your heart as much as it did mine.