My Trip To London To See Jacqueline Wilson

By Caitlyn Fell

A writing workshop with author Jacqueline Wilson is an opportunity not to be missed, thought Creative Writing student Caitlyn Fell. Confronting her anxieties, the care leaver headed down to London to meet the writing legend. She wanted to learn more about the power of storytelling, how to make your words come alive. The trip was organised by the Care Leaver Covenant which provides support for care leavers aged 16-25 to live independently – and the travel costs were all covered by the Edge Hill University Student Opportunity Fund.

The thought of this trip was nerve-wracking. I hadn’t been to London since I was 7. And I worried about how my anxiety would react to being in such a busy, fast city. However, I wouldn’t be alone, so I decided to face my fears.

Myself and another person travelled to Ormskirk train station from campus. It was an early 5am start. We arrived at the train station with plenty of time to spare and then started our adventure. At Preston, we met another person, and after a couple of hours we finally arrived at Euston Station.

We used trusty Google Maps to find our way to our event destination: The British Library. I would need a whole other trip just to explore it – it’s huge. The event was organised by the Care Leavers Covenant, an inclusion programme that creates access to opportunities for care leavers across the UK. We entered and waited for the event to start.

Once people had filled up the room, we waited for the famed author of Tracy Beaker. Jacqueline Wilson spoke of her experiences with writing and life. Some of the advice I received was to continue writing, even if you’re afraid of failing. Jacqueline told us not to worry about what we write, but to just do it and take a chance. And revealed that she never reads her first draft before it’s finished. Even if she’s forgotten some of the details.

Jacqueline explained that she never expected to be a famous author, and that she doesn’t think imposter syndrome ever goes away. It was great to hear someone talk about their experiences in the industry. After the talk, she went around the room to speak to people individually. And she even signed my copy of My Sister Jodie. Then there was time for pictures.

As we left, and with time to spare, we debated what to do. We decided on the British Library’s gift shop. That was not good for my pocket. But it was amazing. There were so many pretty books and cool souvenirs. Then we set off for our train home. I got back to campus around 8pm, and it was the end of a pretty good adventure.

Student Opportunity Fund

If you are an undergraduate, postgraduate taught, PGCE or MRes student at Edge Hill University, you can apply for up to £2,000 to support a career-enhancing project, initiative or opportunity that will enrich your student experience and enable you to stand out in a competitive environment. Don’t let opportunities pass you by. Visit the Student Opportunity Fund webpage for more information.

It is strongly advised that you get in touch with the Careers team before applying to the Student Opportunity Fund. You can use the ask a question service or book an appointment via the careers website. Careers staff can help you find suitable opportunities and provide support in submitting a strong application.

Care Experienced and Estranged Student (CESSS)

If you are a CEES student, you can access a range of support throughout your journey here at Edge Hill. Our Student Support Team are dedicated to supporting you. From struggles with university life to accessing services you need to succeed including wellbeing or money advice. Drop the team an email if you have any questions or if you would like to arrange a meeting: [email protected].