Spring has sprung and the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s new training and development programme is now available. Building on the unique training opportunities provided by the Centre for the last 10 years, this year’s further extended programme affirms the Scottish Storytelling Centre as the lead provider of storytelling training. Offering a generous and wide-ranging array of traditions and skills workshops, professional development in-service days and national development events, the programme has something for everyone from the beginner to the master storyteller, facilitated by the cream of Scotland’s storytelling professionals.

“Very helpful with both technique and understanding of storytelling” 2007 participant

The training season kicks off on Friday 4th April with a North East weekend: Beginning with Scottish Folktales, a beginners’ workshop is led by Aberdeenshire favourite Jackie Ross, and the exceptional Traveller storyteller Stanley Robertson leads a masterclass of Muckle Sangs on Saturday 5th April, to connect with Edinburgh’s Ceilidh Culture.

The rich colour and diversity of Scotland’s regional storytelling continues as the Highland tradition is honoured by the return of the Glendale Gathering hosted by George MacPherson on the Isle of Skye on 24th and 25th May, and combining ceilidhs with workshops and storywalks. The Storytelling Centre and Network will also continue to draw from international traditions and practice, as Sunday 2nd November brings a look at how our Nordic neighbours approach storytelling in Northern Lights: Sources and Resources.

Taking an inclusive and person-centred approach to education, the Whole Person Learning strand of the programme features seven innovative full-day seminars, aimed at sharing best practice and storytelling activities with teachers and educationalists. Events range from Storybox on Tuesday 20th May with storyteller and author Judy Paterson, to Global Citizens: Connecting through Story with storyteller and educator Michael Williams on Friday 30th May, with all education options providing strong support for teachers involved in the development of creative approaches to the new Curriculum for Excellence.

Michael returns in October to lead a half day workshop looking at the potential for storytelling to safely draw out and explore sensitive issues relating to young people, in Stories for Health and Wellbeing: Working with Young People. This is preceded by Stories for Health and Wellbeing: Personal and Community Development on Saturday 26th April; an overview of applied storytelling approaches in this field, and the

First in a number of Network Development Events offering storytelling Network members the opportunity to share and discuss examples of experience and good practice.

“A fantastic, fun and really interesting day.” 2007 participant

The 2008-9 programme features a number of exciting additions, including an important new partnership with Newbattle Abbey College which has led to the first residential ‘Contemporary Storytelling’ Professional Development Unit, validated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

A direct response to demand for residential events, this course consists of two weekends at the Newbattle venue and is proof of an enormous groundswell of interest in the in-depth development of storytelling methods and skills. This growth is further cemented by the formalisation and application of these skills across a variety of professions including teaching, interpretation and commerce, marking a recognition of storytelling as a formidable learning tool in many different environments.

Back at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, the Certificate of Attendance was a great success last year, and is offered this year again in two forms. The General Certificate is available for attendance at any four workshops across any of the four strands of the 2008-9 programme, and the Themed Certificate is for completion of four workshops in specific area. This structure allows for both a broad and a contextual focus, tailored to each participant’s interest.


For the full 2008-9 Connecting with Stories programme, visit http://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk/training/Training_2008_-_12_Page[1].pdf  

For further information contact Caroline Budge, National Storytelling Co-ordinator on
0131 652 3272 or caroline@scottishstorytellingcentre.com