The Village Storytelling Centre

The Village Storytelling Centre is all about people and language. We recognise that talking and listening allow us to share and learn from each other. Good storytelling is about relationships, it is about making connections between people. One of the oldest art forms, storytelling has been at the heart of human expression for as long as we have been able to talk. Stories can be inspirational, evolving with every telling and with every teller and moulded to fit the audience. Stories are what happen to us, they're what we do, and they're who we are and who we want to be. Storytelling is our way of making sense of the world around us and of finding our own unique voice. Over the past ten years we have completed a huge body of work with different groups. For example: Intergenerational and Cross Cultural projects bringing people together and identifying points of commonality to promote understanding and tolerance. Thematic groups such as young carers and looked after children delivering customised programmes which not only offer a creative outlet but also enable participants to explore their situation and increase their self confidence. We have delivered site specific storytelling sessions and projects in a variety of settings including castles, parks and canals. In this context storytelling is a great way of engaging with local communities and making links with the past, present and the future. Within the school setting storytelling offers a valuable educational tool, it provides children and young people with imaginative and engaging learning experiences that can enhance and add to their understanding of a topic. With themes which complement the Curriculum for Excellence there is the ability to deliver one-off sessions or a series of workshops over a period of time. Since its establishment in 2000 The Village has worked with many thousands of people across the West of Scotland supporting them to find a voice and to shape and share their stories.