Kingston School of Art researchers join forces with Kingston Library Service to shape storytelling workshops for borough community groups

Posted Wednesday 7 December 2022

Seven local community groups completed six to ten sessions, creating an array of short stories, poems and lyrics.

Kingston University researchers have teamed up with Kingston Library Service to support a series of storytelling workshop for community organisations based in the borough. The workshops have been staged as part of an Arts Council England-funded project, focusing on storytelling for adults.

Led by storyteller Richard Neville, with Kingston School of Art research staff observing and evaluating the sessions, the workshops have been taking place across Kingston during the past year. The storyteller and researchers collaborated with a range of community organisations, including Refugee Action Kingston, Hestia, MIND, Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness, Mencap, Voices of Hope: The Pearl Project and Balance. Each group has completed six to ten sessions, creating an array of short stories, poems and lyrics, some of which have been published in book form.

Kingston Library Service initially approached the University, seeking to tap into its research expertise to support and independently evaluate the project. Kingston School of Art's Associate Dean of Research and Enterprise, Professor Maria Chatzichristodoulou, and research assistant Dr Alex Laffer took up the challenge, contributing to the workshops, evaluating the overall project efficacy and producing a toolkit for community organisations wishing to use storytelling as a means for community development after the completion of the project.

The toolkit provides a lasting legacy for the project, offering frameworks, support mechanisms, guidance and examples of best practice. Professor Chatzichristodoulou explained. "We've been able to combine Mr Neville's wealth of experience and the University's expertise to add a structure to the storytelling workshops that can be adapted to meet each group's needs," she said. "Refugee Action Kingston wanted to use it to develop English language skills, while The Pearl Project, which supported women who have been victims of domestic abuse, wanted to use the sessions to process traumatic experiences, help participants find their voices and express themselves with confidence."

Dr Alex Laffer, Councillor Peter Herlinger, Deputy Mayor Councillor Nicola Nardelli, Richard Neville, Kingston Mayor Councillor Yogan Yoganathan and Professor Maria Chatzichristodoulou were in attendance at the event at Kingston library.

The University's evaluation demonstrates the positive impact storytelling had on the participants, while the toolkit captures Richard Neville's storytelling expertise and harnesses the understanding and skills used in his work, Professor Chatzichristodoulou said. "We found that the workshops increased confidence for service users and created a sense of deep sharing – bringing together people and communities, developing skills and understanding – while offering a healing mechanism for those needing it. This is all the more important when organisations may find themselves operating in a context of limited resources over the next few years."

Mr Neville welcomed the opportunity to have the impact of the sessions documented by the University's researchers. "The process was group-led, with the participants finding their own path into the notion of storytelling and producing all sorts of insights along the way," he said. "The University observed each session to understand what was working for each group and then systematically distilled the lessons of the project. I've always wanted to do something like this, but never had access to research expertise before."

The groups created printed versions of their creative writings, which were on display at the celebratory meeting.The success of the collaboration demonstrated the advantages of tapping into the expertise of the University's researchers to enhance activities across the borough, Professor Chatzichristodoulou explained. "By pooling resources and sharing skills we can work together to support voluntary groups and charities and make a real difference in the community," she added.

At a celebratory event marking the culmination of the project, Kingston Mayor Councillor Yogan Yoganathan praised the project for empowering borough residents and bringing them together through sharing stories. "We greatly value Kingston Library Services and I would like to thank Kingston University for bringing its expertise to enhance this project, add value to the wonderful work being done and help to lift the community," he said.