Judith puts pen to paper to help raise money for NSPCC

Judith puts pen to paper to help raise money for NSPCC

16 September 2020

NEWCASTLE woman Judith Smyth is using her creative writing skills to help raise funds for the NSPCC.

Rather than taking up a sporting or physical challenge, the retired teacher has raised nearly £850 for the charity’s Young Witness Service with her writing challenge.

A Young Witness Service volunteer, Judith was inspired to continue to support the charity in another way during lockdown when courts were closed.

Judith said: “During lockdown I was aware that NSPCC still needed to raise funds to support their work.  As I was cocooning, I felt unable to help and was impressed by so many people doing wonderful fund-raising through sponsored exercise, walks, runs and the like.” 

The Young Witness Service is unique to Northern Ireland  and it provides support and assistance to children and young people aged under 18 who have to attend court as witnesses.

Specially trained NSPCC Northern Ireland staff and volunteers provide information and advice to children – as well as their family, friends and supporters – before, during and after the trial to help minimise the trauma of appearing in court and giving evidence. 

Judith taught English and drama in the former Castlewellan High School. Her late husband, Isaac, was a well known photographer in Newcastle.

She explained how she got into creative writing. “I worked for many years as an English and Drama teacher and then as a producer of educational resources for schools and museums, and ended my career as an adviser for a range of online educational resources within the BBC.  So for many years I wrote for others.”

 “Since retirement and the death of my husband I have, to a large extent, immersed myself in my writing. I am not a published writer but have been drawn to nature writing, memoir and a little bit of short story. Writing is a great way to express your inner thoughts and to unbottle feelings as well as the joy of being a little bit creative.”

Judith says writing is a great way to exercise her mind as well as for her personal enjoyment and others and led to her charity challenge, Time To Write.

“There is a saying by Jane Yolen ‘Exercise the writing muscle every day’… so without the exercise, the muscles seize up,” explained Judith.

“And from that the idea of Time to Write emerged. I have a Just Giving page and if people donate, I will send them five different pieces of my writing, one every  day for five consecutive days. Each piece will be either uplifting, entertaining or informative.

She has been involved with the NSPCC since childhood as her mother was secretary of the local branch.

Judith said: “On retirement I trained as an NSPCC Young Witness supporter. The training was so thorough, very enlightening and gave a solid secure base from which to support the needs of those children and young people who need to go to court to give evidence as witnesses to or victims of crime. It’s a privilege to be able to support them in this way through what is, for them, a very difficult time. 

“I also trained for NSPCC’s Speak Out Stay Safe programme and this too is so very rewarding. We engage with children in the school through assemblies and interactive workshops so that children will be aware of the forms of abuse and how to speak out to ensure they receive any help they need.”

Judith says that her writing challenge is something that helps her as well as helping children.

“Doing this work  has certainly inspired me to keep on writing, which I did not find easy along with a certain level of anxiety that many of us felt and still are feeling,” she said. “Knowing I just might raise a little bit of money for NSPCC helped maintain focus.”

Joanne McMaster, NSPCC’s supporter fundraising manager, praised Judith for her initiative.

“We are hugely grateful to Judith for this wonderful fundraising initiative and using her love for writing to support NSPCC Northern Ireland,” she said.

“This could not come at a better time as support for our services for young people at NSPCC Northern Ireland is needed now more than ever. 

“We know there are hidden victims — suffering abuse and neglect at home, increased risk online, or further pressures on their mental health.

“It’s time for us to all work together — to rebuild our society so it’s better for our children; to continue to adapt how we work on the frontline of child protection, and to go further. Because no child should be left to cope alone.”

who have supported my page and just hoped that some of them enjoyed some of my writing.”

To donate to Judith’s Just Giving page visit https://bit.ly/2ZiSEgs