There was a packed house in Belfast last week for the first of the Fostering Network’s series of story telling events.
Around 40 looked-after children and sons and daughters of foster carers and 20 foster carers took part. It was the first in a UK-wide programme, sponsored by the Roald Dahl Foundation.
Three workshops were led by storyteller Liz Weir, performer Fra Gunn and local librarian Pat Jordan, at Belfast’s Black Box Theatre. Christina Donnelly from the Fostering Network Northern Ireland said:
‘I felt privileged to witness creative storytelling in action. The energy and excitement displayed by everyone contributed to a successful day.
‘There was a great response and the children were extremely enthusiastic. The Roald Dahl Foundation’s involvement was a big draw – these books are a staple of any child’s reading diet.’
The event was part
of the Fostering Network’s Telling My Story project, designed to
develop vocabulary and speaking and listening skills. Similar
events are planned in Cardiff, Glasgow, Cornwall and Newcastle upon
Tyne. There is also a story telling competition, which asks
children to continue a story featuring Tracy Beaker, started by
Tracy’s creator, the children’s author Jacqueline Wilson.
Liz is pictured, right centre, with Kate Lewis, director the Fostering Network Northern Ireland. They are surrounded by (anti-clockwise from top left), Natasha, Billie-Jean, Veronique, Dominique, Allister and Curtis.
A professional storyteller and writer, Liz is a former children’s librarian for Belfast. She now travels the world sharing stories with adults and children.
To find out more about the storytelling competition and similar events coming up elsewhere in the UK, visit our Storytelling project.
Picture by Stephen Wilson.