Who we are
Based in the community of Pollok, Glasgow, we are Scotland’s leading applied storytelling organisation and a centre for contemporary oral storytelling.
What we do
Our Vision is a world where people and communities are inspired, connected and heard. Our Mission to improve and enrich lives across Scotland through the power of story is achieved through our work in our local community of Pollok and through collaborative projects with partner organisations, across Greater Glasgow and beyond.
STRATEGIC AIMS
- To increase access to storytelling and creative opportunities for communities
- To provide platforms for people to share their voices
- To promote the artform of contemporary oral storytelling across Scotland and beyond
OUTCOMES
- People will have improved mental health and wellbeing
- People will feel better connected to each other and their communities
- People will actively shape their communities and influence decision makers
- The diversity of voices in contemporary oral storytelling will be improved
- Audiences for contemporary oral storytelling will be increased and diversified
“This morning I felt choppy. Now I feel sunny. I always cheer up knowing I will come to the session” Participant quote
Our History
Former Village premises at St James’ Church, Pollok
The Village Storytelling Centre was set up in 2000 by a highly committed group of local people from Pollok. Our organisation was created to address complex local challenges through the delivery of a range of story-led and creative services.
For 17 years we were based in the beautiful premises of St James’ Church before moving to the more central location of Langton Halls in 2017. Our work in the area of Pollok has grown over the years and we work across the wider Glasgow Wards of Greater Pollok and Newlands Auldburn to deliver our core local community programmes.
Alongside provision in our local area we have delivered a range of programmes across the city and beyond. We have developed as a leader and innovator in applied storytelling which has led us to work with some of the most marginalised and isolated communities such as people with disabilities, refugees, LGBTQ+ groups, people experiencing homelessness, people in recovery, people with life limiting conditions, people in prison and women affected by male violence.
Over the years we have delivered a number of oral history projects and been involved in telling the stories of local and Scottish history, such as that of Crookston Castle, the history of Pollok and memories of the Glasgow Garden Festival.
Our work in schools has developed broadly over the years and we have had experience of working across the stages of education, from Nursery to Universities!
In 2016 we held our first Village Storytelling Festival, which we hoped would become a biennial event. A short pause in our plans was extended with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic but we were pleased to hold the Village Storytelling Festival 2022 just in time to celebrate Scotland’s Year of Stories.
While our services and reputation now reach across Glasgow and Scotland, we remain committed to the people of Greater Pollok and neighbouring ward Newlands Auldburn and continue to be a community led organisation.
Workshops at St James’ Church, Photo Credit: Alex Bowie
AWARDS
We have won a number of awards throughout out work including:
- Best Children’s Event, Glasgow Doors Open Day, 2019
- Best Scottish Short for ‘A Long Line of Glitter’, Scottish Queer International Film Festival, 2017
- Best Acute Care Initiative for ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’, Scottish Dementia Awards, 2017
