storytelling training

For Personal and Professional Development

Enchant and inspire!

The Village Storytelling Centre provides a range of storytelling training programmes to suit both individuals and groups, whether for fun, or to bring new skills to their professional and community lives.  All  the training activities are aimed at encouraging people's innate ability as storytellers, and the recognition of story as a powerful means of communication in a wide range of situations, from parents telling stories to their children at bedtime, to the Countryside Ranger developing a group's enthusiasm for the environment, to the local authority organisation seeking to develop the confidence and articulation skills of its workers.

The recommended number of participants for each training event ranges from ten to twenty.

All storytelling courses run by The Village Storytelling Centre are endorsed by

the Scottish Storytelling Centre.

Training can be delivered at different levels to suit need, from taster sessions to more in-depth courses. Please contact Vanessa for information on cost, availability and tailor-made training to suit your needs.

Training Programmes

The following training programmes can be delivered at The Village or at a location of your choice.  Programmes can be appropriately adapted to your group's needs.

Storytelling Step by Step

A general course to raise participants' confidence in their own creativity as storytellers.  The course will help participants to explore story sources and story selection, learn stories and make them their own, and improve their natural storytelling skills by considering, for example, eye contact, gesture and use of voice as they develop their own style.

Storytelling for Interpretation

This course is for Countryside Rangers, Museum Learning Assistants, tour guides, teachers etc and can be appropriately focused to suit your group.  Participants will develop their storytelling skills by observation, exploring appropriate artifacts, locations etc for storytelling, and a series of storytelling exercises to develop confidence and skills.

Storytelling and the Community of Enquiry

How can the telling of traditional tales develop thinking skills in the primary and secondary school classroom?  A chance to develop storytelling skills and explore the Community of Enquiry as a means to further pupils' ability to think for themselves, as well as develop citizenship skills.

Storytelling Skills for Working with Children

Discover your inner storyteller!  Embark on a journey to explore: 

• Traditional art of oral storytelling
• Purposes of storytelling
• Structure of stories
• Skills to engage children as listeners
• Ways of increasing your confidence by developing story learning skills
• Merits of storytelling as a means of communication
• Techniques for developing imagination in children
• Sources of storytelling material

Storytelling Skills for Parents

The benefits of oral storytelling:

• Develops communication between parent and child
• Provides an opportunity for parent and child bonding
• Offers the opportunity to share family stories that help develop a child's sense of identity
• Develops the creativity and imagination of both parent and child
• Builds self-esteem and confidence for both parent and child
• It is not reliant on the ability to read confidently

Confidence Skills 

Learn how the traditional art of oral storytelling can help you to build up your confidence.

• Build up your confidence in speaking
• Learn to blow your own trumpet
• Find value in your life experience
• Feel confident in a learning environment
• Develop strategies for learning and for tackling the unknown
• Expand your creativity and imagination
• Improve your concentration skills
• Develop self acceptance
• Learn to accept feedback and criticism

Presentation Skills

Learn how the traditional art of oral storytelling can turn you into a confident and engaging presenter.

• Build up your confidence in speaking
• Use your life experience
• Develop your vocal skills
• Learn to read your audience
• Use preparation and rehearsal skills
• Deal with nervousness
• Train your memory
• Expand your creativity and imagination
• Develop your problem solving skills
• Lean to give and receive feedback

Storytelling in Organisations

• Does your mission statement seem a bit tired?
• Do members of your organisation have difficulty explaining your work to clients or funders?
• Are newer members of staff unable to compellingly tell the stories of your organisation?

Why not consider what we can offer to help your organisation stand out from the crowd?

Using the medium of storytelling we can help you to look afresh at your organisation and train your staff to tell your story in appropriate and engaging ways. 

For each of the above sessions, up to 20 people can be accommodated depending on the space available.

For further details on training programmes available contact Vanessa