Storytelling for community planning – a question of ethics

The Village Storytelling Centre and the Centre for Civic Innovation

Storytelling is a powerful tool for social change when working with people experiencing exclusion. Understanding the real stories of people affected by decisions made by planners, policy-makers and service providers can make a big difference to truly putting people at the heart of the support they access. But what are the ethical considerations when “using” people’s stories? How can we make sure they feel in control of their narrative, now and in the future? And who holds the power when we work with story in this way.

In this workshop you will hear from the Centre For Civic Innovation whose incredible ROOF project, which aims to eradicate homelessness, combines storytelling with service design to put people at its centre. You will also work through a series of provocations and exercises with the Village Storytelling Centre, considering those vital ethical questions.

Part of the Aurus Project Launch. For almost two years a team from Scotland, England, Greece, Hungary, and the Netherlands worked on the Aurus project, focusing on how to use storytelling in working with people and groups in vulnerable circumstances, including the most marginalised and isolated. Europe faces growing numbers of people at risk of and experiencing social exclusion. Mank think that their story doesn't matter, that they don't matter. The partners in this project believe everyone's story matters and that working with applied storytelling can help people realise their strengths and know how to use them.
Partners: The Village Storytelling Centre (Glasgow, Scotland)
Képes Alapítvány (Budapest, Hungary)
Vrije Universiteit (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
DW-RS Producties (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Settle Stories (Settle, England)
Mythos (Korrisia, Greece)

Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union