The Village Storytelling Centre

1. The Village Storytelling Centre Annual Report 2011

2. Welcome to another year of exciting activities Say hello to some of the stars we met on the way……….

3. We have evaluated the way we work and have introduced a number of services some of which encompass the work we have delivered in the past Consultation and Evaluation Employability Equalities Health and Wellbeing Heritage and Environment Learning Public Events Let’s take a look at what’s been happening….

4. Consultation and Evaluation Team work was the order of the day when working with Neilston Development Trust to help the local community explore a shared vision for the future of a local outdoor space. Storyteller Allison Galbraith worked with local school children and older residents , exploring how the space had been used in the past and their hopes for the future of the site

5. Employability We have worked with a wide range of people who have been unemployed for a long time supporting them to become work-ready Working with parents considering going back into the work environment through the School Gates initiative and the long term unemployed. Storytelling is a meaningful tool encouraging people to focus upon the positive aspects of their life

6. Equalities ‘I’m Here Too’ In partnership with Glasgow Association for Mental Health, we embarked on a project addressing the stigma and other problems experienced by people caring for relatives or friends with mental health issues

7. Health and Wellbeing Our reminiscence sessions have continued this year with lots of interesting subjects, not unusual for a church, we had weddings Love at first sight!!!!!! And our Singing for the Brain project. Working with people suffering with dementia and their carers. Weekly sessions of singing and reminiscence. ‘Britain’s got talent’ eat your heart out!!!!!!

8. Heritage and Environment Our partnership with Historic Scotland has continued and has strengthened this year with our on-going work at Crookston Castle but also work with schools in Inverclyde focussing on the Antonine Wall and a community project at Newark Castle. Come and join us on July 2nd at the Comet Festival Port Glasgow and in various sites around the city for our first environmental festival And there’s more

9. Heritage and Environment Historic Scotland commissioned us to deliver an educational project with local schools Bellahouston Academy and Glendale Primary using storymaking and storytelling to bring the history of the Antonine Wall alive What a handsome chap!!! Joanna enthused the children with stories of Romans and Alex Bowie our resident artist at the time encouraged them to make busts, the pictures of which, were used to create character postcards for use at the site in the future

10. Learning Our learning service has many strands, working with pre school children, primary schools and special events Saturday Arts Drop In remains a very popular activity with local children aged 7-12, some of whom have been coming since these classes started The ever popular Wee Tales led by Gerry Durkin, a firm favourite with tots and adults alike This year they have been creating their own imaginary town and people More again

11. Learning Our work with schools this year has taken a different approach. A unique project took us to four Glasgow Primary schools where one class from each school worked with our storyteller and felt artist Liz Brown over a seven week period. The children created their own stories and feltwork. One boy said “When the bell rang everyday you were in I would jump up and down with excitement” Even more

12. Learning Taking it to the streets was how we delivered our project ‘Windows on the World’. In April our storyteller Joanna and artist Fiona Fleming braved the elements to invite passers by to create small windows of art expressing what they would like to see from their own windows. This week long event produced some imaginative art and stories. Children and adults took part with ages ranging from three to very, very, very old!!!!!!

13. Public Events We have been out and about this year at various galas and festivals, some old, some new. We pitched up with yurt in tow, on a wet and windy day, at the Gourock Highland Games in May and will be making a comeback at the Greater Pollok Integration Network Family Fun Day at the end of June Elsewhere(in doors this time) we have contributed to the Aye Write and Inspiration Festivals Keep watching to meet our Village celebrities!!!!!!!!!!

14. Public Events they will be here soon Our storytelling cafés continue to delight our regular audiences. This year we have partnered with several new organisations, Scottish Opera performing ‘A Little Bit of Figaro’, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra playing a variety of musical pieces, to name drop a few. These evenings bring young and old together and have introduced a budding new talent to the world of storytelling, local boy Paul Chaudhry Jo in full swing

15. Public Events Crookston Castle continues to be a venue for some of our public events. In September in collaboration with a number of arts organisations in the South West we held a medieval multi-media family fun day, with court jesters and fire eating females!!! And in October chilling Gerry Durkin and frightening Allison Galbraith hosted our spooky tales to celebrate Halloween ++++SCARY STUFF++++ Soon… we promise

16. Changing Faces A fond farewell to Alex Bowie our artist in residence up to January – she is off to Argentina working as an art teacher. Lucky Argentinian children Kati Waitzmann – The Glasgow Storytelling Development Officer, Kati has now taken on a new and exciting Storytelling Fellowship Beverley Oakman our Development Manager – her contract came to an end in March, but whilst in post she developed new partnerships and services which will stand us in good stead for the future. Good luck to you all

17. More Changing Faces A warm welcome to Ashley McTavish -Reminiscence Ashley has delivered a rich mix of programmes to delight the regular attendees at our reminiscence sessions. Each month her arrival is eagerly awaited to discover what colour her hair will be Joanna Crawford – Student Joanna has enjoyed working with our volunteers and accompanying Jo to various events. Fiona Rich – Artist Fiona continues to inspire our budding young artists on a Saturday afternoon. Fiona is about to become a Mum for the second time. Congrats and good luck

18. Celebrity Reveal Introducing Finlay and Ian The fabulous and talented yurt builders extraodinaire. Ah you thought we had forgotten, but in true storytelling fashion there needs to be a build up of excitement and anticipation!!!!!!!!!!!! And here they are……… Who needs the HAIRY BIKERS when the Village has their very own HAIRY YURTERS

19. Board of Directors This year we have said goodbye to some of our long standing board members. A huge thank you for all the support and hard work over the years And Welcome to Andy Mallin Claire Burgess Clare McKinstry Emma Inglis Lesley Davidson Londi Beketch Lorraine Irvine Anna Thomson Anne Francis Brian Patterson Cathie Arbuckle Ian Hamilton Louise Goodall And let’s not forget existing members Debbie Nelson, John Mann, June Couper, Margaret Thompson and Mary Hamilton

20. And Finally Tbank you to all the people who make this organisation the exciting and successful venture that it is Our Service Users Our Partner Organisations Our Funders Our Volunteers Our Board of Directors Our Staff It’s all about TEAM WORK

21. Au Revoir And See You Next Year