Barry's 45. In 1988 he left his post as AIDS Liaison Officer to North Tyneside Council to pursue his freelance career as a writer. Over several years he evolved into a Writer and Community Arts Activist/Co-ordinator and has vast experience in the following:

Encouraging individuals and groups in all kinds of settings to use writing to explore their lives and worlds.

Co-ordinating complex long and short-term community arts projects that have engaged hundreds of people that otherwise may not have accessed the arts.

Organising courses, one-off community arts events and launches of books, community films, etc.

The production and editing of community books.

The writing and production of community plays.

Managing other artists/practitioners.

Handling publicity - ie, newspaper/radio/tv.

Building partnerships between organisations in order to make creative projects possible.

Representing regional arts/education activities at national conferences.

Extensive experience as a writer in residence/workshop facilitator in schools (all ages) and in adult education.

Providing arts/best practice training.

Pie In The Sky Writing from two nursing homes 1993 (N'land)

Closer links Writing from a high school and a nursing home 1995 (N'land)

Fabulous Just Writing from Ragworth Estate, Stockton 1994 (Tees Valley)

Dress Rehearsals Writing from Oxbridge Lane School, Stockton 1996 (Tees Valley)

Why Florida? Writing from Nidderdale Area Of

Outstanding Natural Beauty 1996 (N Yorkshire) - Awarded Harrogate District Council, Special Award For Environmental Excellence 1997.

Dancing In Mid-Air Writing from young drug users, their families and carers 1996 (N'Land)

Eyes Open (Nothing Embroidered) Writing from the friends and loved ones of deceased AIDS activist Keith Thomas Livingstone 1996 (Newcastle)

Shades Of Gay New pink writing 1997 (Newcastle)

Titles Are Bitches Compiled by Barry Stone. Edited by tutors Chaz Brenchley, Julia Darling, Jane Thomas, Brighid Morrigan and Barry Stone. 2000 (Newcastle)

'..from the Car Crazy project'... People, cars and a whole lot more. 2002 (region wide).

In October 2003 the judges of the Raymond Williams Community Publishing Prize commended the Car Crazy book as a 'revelation' and a 'fantastic achievement'.

Other details -

In 1997 Barry won the Kate Collingwood Playwriting Award.

Taking The Wrap was short listed in the community category of the 1998 Northern Electric And Gas Arts Awards.

In 1999 Barry was First Runner Up for Artist Of the Year, Northern Electric And Gas

And finally -

Throughout the summer of 2003 Barry is one of two writers working with two photographers on Queer Toon.

An addition to this year's Proudwords pink writing festival, Queer Toon will result in an exhibition of words and images pertaining to many aspects of queer life on Tyneside

Barry worked with Year 10 students at Prudhoe Community High School over a period of four weeks in the Summer term of 2008 and also with Year 8 students at Ovingham Middle School prior to Easter 2008. Both schools were involved in a project called "Writing About Schools" which involved children in all the schools within the Prudhoe Pyramid.

Barry worked successfully with all students in both schools, assisting pupils in producing some very effective writing in a range of genres.

The year 8 students worked on newspaper articles and Barry's energy and enthusiasm for the topic inspired much lively and entertaining writing. With three groups of Year 10 students Barry worked on writing screenplays set in schools. He introduced students to theories about narrative as well as the conventions of writing screenplays. Once again Barry's dynamic approach in the classroom resulted in some very interesting work being produced to a very strict deadline. Barry also worked with one group who included a number of students with behavioural difficulties engaging in exploratory writing and discussion about behaviour.

Barry impressed staff and students alike with his detailed subject knowledge and boundless enthusiasm. Relationships with staff and students were excellent including the most challanging students. Barry is professional and enthusiastic and I would have no hesitation in recommending him to work with young people.   Jill Davidson Acting Head of English Prudhoe Community High School

Reference for Barry Stone regards CLL course on Introduction to Scriptwriting.

My son and I have been attending Barry?s night class on Introduction to Scriptwriting for Radio, Stage, Television and Film, one of the Centre for Lifelong Learning Arts courses offered by Sunderland University at Newcastle University campus.  The reason for my presence on the course was really as support to my son, who has diverse special needs, but I quickly found myself, carried along by Barry?s enthusiasm, working as hard as the rest of the class!

The course has focussed strongly on narrative and how to work in a structured way from a clearly thought through Idea to a first draft script or screenplay. Barry quickly fostered a good working atmosphere, encouraging and gaining full participation from all members of our class, who are the typical night class mix of ages, backgrounds and aspirations. We have had many laughs as we have learned, particularly when giving and accepting criticism of each other?s work; at the same time, Barry?s standards are high and his expectations of what can be produced with a ?little more work? have inspired us each week to do better.

I know that my son has gained a lot from the course to help him towards realising his potential as a writer, particularly in terms of the structure and organisation of his thinking. However, of equal importance in my view, is that his first experience of this highly interactive style of learning has been a very positive one, thanks to Barry. For myself, I have learned the important differences between writing for drama and writing prose and I suspect that my new found knowledge of Aristotle?s classical narrative and critical analysis may have changed the way in which I enjoy drama forever!