Minister of the Month – Talia Baum

Meet our Minister of the Month volunteer Talia Baum. Talia is one of our top mentors, keeping young writers inspired in both comic book and story writing workshops.  She loves drawing, sculpting and creating magical stories with her children.

Name: Talia Baum

Volunteer role: Writing Mentor

Live: London

Favourite story:

The Hedgehog that swallowed a car full of passengers. It was very humorous, creative and full of the unexpected!

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I have worked as a marketer in the drinks and cosmetics sector for over 15 years. As a child, I loved curling up with a good book but I found the prospect of writing a story terrifying and sometimes tortuous.

I have always had a passion for making art and found it much easier to express myself through drawing and sculpture than through writing. Having said that, some of my most enjoyable moments of the day are spent with my three children (aged 11, 8 and 6) weaving together fantastical stories with magical characters, to help them switch off from a busy day and ease them into a state of sleepiness.

Why did you decide to volunteer with Ministry of Stories?

Through the experience of reading and creating stories with my own kids – and chatting about characters that they’ve loved – I could see how much their story telling had benefited and I wanted to share the fun of bringing stories to life with other kids. The Ministry of Stories sounded like a really exciting venture through which to make this happen.

Were you nervous about anything before starting?

I was definitely worried that I may not get some of the children fired-up about writing and that even with my encouragement, I might get a few blank looks.

What has been the best experience of volunteering?

Seeing the reactions of some of the pupils when they realise they will be able to take home their very own bound copy of their story and seeing the look of pride on their faces.

What has been the most unexpected thing about volunteering?

Seeing very quickly the visible impact that you can have on the children; the wide range of voluntary opportunities you can take advantage of; how sociable it is, always meeting people from so many different walks of life; feeling acknowledged. The Ministry does a great job of managing its volunteers.

Describe the Ministry of Stories in three words

Fun, rewarding and innovative.

What would you say to other people thinking of volunteering with the Ministry?

Go for it! It’s a really positive experience. The more volunteers they get, the more bold, brave and innovative they can be with their programming.