The Hackney Pirates’ summer project is now well underway: this term the Young Pirates are writing and recording motivational speeches onto a CD to lift the spirits of the nation. But before they put pen to paper and compose their own inspiring communications, they’ve been getting into a positive and encouraging frame of mind by sending out 140 character messages of joy to the Twittersphere – check out #HPinspire.

They’ve also performed rousing speeches and poems by master orators including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Rocky. You can watch the Pirates’ attempts on Youtube and here’s Gwynneth’s version of Rudyard Kipling’s old classic ‘If’…

Our next creative product is going to be a guidebook for Hackney, featuring as many of the best aspects of the local community as we can bring together.

If you know of any organisation or an exciting place which you think would like to feature in our wonderful guidebook then let us know.

Unfortunately, it’s hard for the Young Pirates to travel out of our space to come and see , so we would like to have people come in to the Pirates HQ to give a short introduction to the work you do and to answer a few questions from the Young Pirates. The idea would be that by the time you leave us the Young Pirates would be able to write a short promotional article about you or your organisation to be published in the guidebook.

Do let us know if you or anyone you know would be interested in taking part by emailing camilla@hackneypirates.org

Be inspired by Hackney’s finest Young Pirates at their imaginative best. The Hackney Pirates are proud to present Inspire Me. A website designed as an instructional tool to cope with life’s many burdens. The Young Pirates alongside their amazing volunteers have been busy all term creating videos demonstrating all the weird and wonderful skills needed to live the happy and contented pirate lifestyle. You can begin with the basics of what it means to be a Hackney Pirate, or get yourself in shape using a range of exercise videos. Then learn how to protect Pirate Headquarters, grow your own food or build an electric motor. You can even learn how to make a wormery. So whatever your plans for 2013, just make sure they’re inspired.

 Come and join The Hackney Pirates at the world premiere of Pandemonium on the Tracks, a thrilling new play written by the children, performed by professional actors.

As part of our drama-writing project last term the young pirates invented characters of their own, ranging from ninjas to cyborgs, from princesses to champion jockeys. Their work has been turned into a piece of drama like no other by Project Manager Shelley Ayliffe, and will be performed at Hoxton Hall on the afternoon of Saturday 1st December at 4.30pm by a wondrous troupe of actors.

Please come along and join the pirates on a journey into the insightful, the remarkable and downright nutty world of Pandemonium on the Tracks! Tickets are just £5 with all proceeds going to support the Hackney Pirates in delivering more exciting literacy projects like this one. You can buy tickets here. See you there!

We did it! On Saturday 3rd November a crew of 20 Pirates young and old stormed through our 5km sponsored run in Victoria Park. We modestly think we were the best dressed crew out there. Thanks to all the amazing runners, and to the people who have sponsored us so far. You can still sponsor us at http://www.justgiving.com/Catriona-Maclay1 .

A write up of The Hackney Pirates Music Video Launch

by Coral

Creative, inspirational and fabulous are just a few words to describe Monday the 15th of October 2012.

On Monday the 15th of October the Hackney Pirates had a video launch. We had the launch at the Hackney Picturehouse. It was an absolute success. The band was there and everyone was enjoying themselves. There were poem readers and even dancing, in fact the best dancers in hackney! In between 100 and 250 people were there. (About 200 actually – Editor) Roughly £370 was raised, that is fantastic! This money will all go towards having better projects for us young pirates. There was even free drinks from the bar and free popcorn.

Thank you to everyone who came and supported us!

Get your free tickets for the public launch of The Hackney Pirates music video! Featuring a live performance from The Amazing Graces (now called State of Play), special guests, and a chance to meet the Young Pirates behind the video. Click here to reserve your ticket! Monday 15th October, 6:00-8:00 P.M. at The Hackney Picturehouse.

There are still a couple of weeks to get in your application for your dream job as a Creative Educator & Volunteer Manager with The Hackney Pirates. Click here for a slightly updated Job Description: http://bit.ly/NzYGN9

Exciting days at Pirate HQ – we are looking for a new shipmate. We need someone to lead our volunteer programme and develop our educational provision. We’re looking for someone with teaching experience who is ready for a big new adventure. The full job description and application details are here . Please help us spread the word! Application deadline is Sunday 30th September, and get in touch if you have any questions.

Over the weekend The Hackney Pirates were out in force in a secret woodland in Kent for our fundraising festival “Wild Things”. Amid circus performers, 17 live bands and an interactive theatre performance you could find plenty of Pirates drumming up gold coins and volunteers to support our work next year. Our personal highlight was the premiere of the young Pirates’ new music video for The Amazing Graces, which went down a storm to the crowd of 250 people, before a brilliant set by the Amazing Graces themselves. HUGE wild thank yous to the many people who made the festival possible – Becky, Georgie, Chris, Ben, Camillia, Phillippa, Henry, Luke, Gareth, Ione, Jenny, The Woods Trust and all the volunteers, acts, performers and wild beasties. Awoooo!