This feedback from a parent of a child who took part in my inaugural after-school media club after the launch of our first magazine is the kind dreams are made of, right? It certainly isn’t where I expected this little side-project adventure to make a magazine with KS2 pupils at a local primary school to end-up. If I’m honest, I wasn’t sure where it would go. I just wanted to spend more time being creative with inspiring young people in a school environment.

Having decided to take some time out of the relentless news cycle around the time I turned 50 late last year, I felt my priorities undergoing a big shift, and seriously considered retraining as a teacher after spending some time volunteering in school. But as I had more conversations with a brilliantly generous network of teachers, TAs, school leaders and others, I realised I might be able to incorporate working with young people based on my existing skills and experience, while at the same time offering a unique enrichment opportunity as a small but very rewarding part of my wider media work.

The first issue of the magazine, conceived and created entirely by 8-11-year-olds, launched last week and we had queues around the block of pupils and parents across the school eager to nab a copy. The kids are over the moon with their creation and the feedback from parents and teachers along the above lines has been flooding in ever since. During a career that has included awards and other accolades for my journalism, I honestly feel this is my proudest moment. What a privilege. My heart is full.