Every child has something to say.

We make sure it’s heard.

The Bank of Dreams and Nightmares works with children and young people aged 7–19 across Dorset. Free workshops, after-school clubs, school programmes and an annual festival, with a particular welcome for those who have been failed, forgotten, or told their voice doesn’t matter.

01

Deposit

A young person writes something. Anything. A poem, a story, a podcast, a survival guide for a Bank Manager in a tiger enclosure. They deposit it with us.

HOW THE BANK WORKS

Four steps from a blank page to something the world has heard.

02

Hold it safely

No marks. No grades. No judgement. Just attention, encouragement, and the unhurried space to make the writing better.

03

Grow interest

We share their work professionally: published books, recorded songs, stage performances, podcast episodes, museum takeovers. The story earns its interest in the world.

04

Withdraw

The young person walks away knowing: I had something worth saying. People listened. I can do this again.

Our programs

We work in primary and secondary schools to spark creativity, build confidence and make writing exciting. Our workshops create space for children to take risks, play with ideas and feel proud of what they can make with words, often leading to real published work they can hold in their hands.
Beyond school hours, we offer three vibrant creative clubs where young people can find their voice in different ways: The Vault newspaper team, The Writers’ Account, and our Podcasting Studio. These spaces give children the freedom to experiment, collaborate and create real work with real audiences, articles in print, podcasts on air, stories ready to publish.
FIND OUT MORE HERE
Our events bring creativity to life on a bigger stage. Bankfest, our three-day youth writing festival, fills spaces with energy, workshops and ideas. Resonate amplifies young voices through live readings and performances, while our holiday clubs offer deep-dive creative adventures when school is out. Together, these events give young people unforgettable experiences, where confidence grows, imaginations stretch and stories take flight.