The Outsiders Project: Writers on Writing with E. L. Norry

Join us for the first in our new workshop series: Writers on Writing, hosted by The Outsiders Project at TOSH. TOP runs workshops throughout the year with marginalised communities in Boscombe. This workshop series is open to anyone who identifies with the below Outsider Artist Criteria. If you have any questions please contact our Community Project Coordinator, Caroline caroline.bjohnson@recreatedorset.co.uk.

About this Workshop

Between November 2025 and May 2026, professional writers will visit TOSH to discuss their pathways, inspirations and practice, answer your questions about the writing process, and lead practical workshops on specific aspects of writing.

The series begins with E. L. Norry (Emma), an author based in Bournemouth who writes fiction and non-fiction for 8–14-year-olds and for television, including EastEnders. Emma’s novels include Fable House, Amber Under Cover and Runaways.

Emma grew up in the care system and is passionate about diversity, inclusion and showing young people that authors can come from different backgrounds.

Future workshops in the Writers on Writing series will feature novelist Kate Beales, screenwriter Andrew Rattenbury, playwright and screenwriter Owen McCafferty, and theatre makers Mojisola Adebayo and Tim Crouch.

About E. L. Norry

E. L. Norry (Emma) is an author based in Bournemouth who writes fiction and non-fiction for children aged 8–14, as well as writing for television, including EastEnders. Her novels include Fable House, Amber Under Cover and Runaways, and her short stories feature in a range of anthologies such as The Super Sunny Murder Club.

Emma grew up in the care system, moving between Cardiff, Barry, Suffolk, Lyme Regis, Exeter and London. These early experiences deeply inform her writing and her commitment to diversity and inclusion in children’s literature. Alongside her writing, she works part-time as a Wellbeing Coach and Safeguarding Officer at a local FE college, visits schools to inspire young readers, and offers mentoring and editing through elnorry.com. Emma is also a judge for the national Coram Voices Creative Writing Competition.

About the Outsiders Project

The Outsiders Project began with a performance created for BEAF Arts Co Festival in 2018. Four artists who had previously taken part in writing workshops came together to make a site-specific storytelling show combining words and music. Every word was written, spoken and performed by the artists themselves.

Since then, The Outsiders Project has grown into a project shaped by the artists it supports. It has produced multiple performances, toured to prisons, and created publications and exhibitions. The project focuses on amplifying the voices of people who are unheard and marginalised. Work is first shared locally before being taken to wider audiences.

Outisider Project Workshops
The Outsiders Project runs free creative writing and photography workshops throughout the year with marginalised communities in Boscombe. These workshops help participants to develop skills, confidence and self-belief.

Outsider Artist Criteria
Workshops are open to anyone over 18 who has been sidelined from society and whose voice has not been heard. The Outsiders Project welcomes participants who have experienced challenges such as physical limitations, addiction, low income, domestic or sexual abuse, homelessness or insecure housing, leaving care or prison, institutional abuse, displacement or seeking asylum, or long-term use of mental health services.

See more information here: Gotbeaf.co.uk

Getting to TOSH
If you are coming by foot or by bus, take the M2 bus and get off near Boscanova if coming from Southbourne, or the stop after Aldi if coming from Poole and Bournemouth. If you are coming by car we would recommend parking in the Sovereign centre car park. We do also have free limited on-site parking at TOSH, available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Pokesdown for Boscombe train station is a 15-20 minute walk to TOSH, along Christchurch Road.

TOSH has accessible toilets and kitchen facilities. If you have any access needs you would like to let us know about, please feel free to email us: contact@toshspace.co.uk