Who We Are
Our Vision
For people with learning, and communication, difficulties to be heard, understood, included and valued.
Our Mission
To enrich the lives of people with learning and communication difficulties, and those who live and work with them, through the use of narrative and story; building relationships, sharing experiences, developing a sense of identity and helping people find their place in society.
Who We Are
Openstorytellers is a charity and social enterprise created to enrich the lives of children, and adults with learning and communication difficulties, using traditional stories and personal narrative. We help people have a voice: to be heard, understood and to broaden the opportunities available to them – to have choices.
Learning disabled people live very isolated lives and find it difficult to get work and to be included in community events. Most of the occupations available to them are within institutions and not encouraging people to use facilities within their community.
Openstorytellers currently runs courses, workshops, activities and performances for and by people with learning disabilities to develop stimulating occupational activities; social contact; employable skills; and for the benefit of the individual, and the community, by participating in community groups.
How We Started
Through her work as a speech and language therapist, Nicola Grove became aware of the power of storytelling to develop a secure personal and cultural identity, and to develop effective personal relationships, and felt that this could be used to challenge social exclusion. In 2004 she obtained a grant from the Big Lottery to set up the first training course in community storytelling for people with learning disabilities, under the auspices of the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD). This course ‘Learning to Tell’ is accredited by Open College Network and now published as a training manual. From this success The Unlimited Company of Storytellers was created.
In 2006 a management committee was set up to run the company. From 2004 until 2008 the company operated as a project under the auspices of the British Institute of Learning Disabilities, a national charity. In September 2008 the company adopted a formal constitution independently of BILD, and became a charity in May 2009. In 2010 Openstorytellers was awarded an organisational development grant from Arts Council England to employ a project manager to support people with learning disabilities to help deliver projects and run the organisation.
Meet Openstorytellers
Click Here to meet the Patrons
Click Here to meet the Trustees
Click Here to meet the Team (coming soon)
Click Here to meet the Trainees (coming soon)