TESTIMONIALS
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Emma Ward, Senior Campaign Manager:
"We commissioned Storyworks to make five digital stories to support two projects; to bring our recent qualitative research ‘Not just another statistic’ to life and to illustrate the experiences of domestic abuse survivors and people with mental health conditions in the workplace.
We have used the stories at conferences, to bring presentations to life and on our website. Our stakeholders have been using them in their organisations too. Feedback has been entirely positive, and the stories are an invaluable tool to influence and raise awareness in a way that traditional case studies can’t. I look forward to working with Storyworks in the future!"
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a public body set up to challenge discrimination, to protect and promote equality and respect for human rights, and to encourage good relations between people of different backgrounds.
University of Bath, ‘Lowcarbonworks’
Michelle Williams, Project Manager:
"We have just finished working in partnership with StoryWorks on an innovative action research project inviting 50 to 80 year olds to tell their stories of everyday sustainable living. We are now in the process of showing these stories to a variety of audiences to assess their impact. Digital storytelling has not been used in this way before in the UK, so this was a highly innovative and challenging project to undertake. We are delighted at the way that the StoryWorks team has risen to the challenge and they have more than exceeded our expectations in every aspect of the work. Without their skill, passion and commitment we could not have elicited such wonderful and moving stories from our group of 8 storytellers. They have gone above and beyond the call of duty and we have learnt so much from working with them. We sincerely hope that our research confirms our belief in the power of stories to move people’s hearts and minds, and that we will have an opportunity to work with the StoryWorks team again in the future."
Shelly Hodder, Participation and Equalities Officer:
"I just wanted to say thank you for the digital storytelling workshop. We're all really pleased with the amazing results produced, and our participants not only learned new skills and had the chance to tell their stories, but have also made firm friends with each other through the intimacy and sharing processes of the workshop. And Mind Cymru get powerful, inspirational films to help us to educate the public and break the stigma surrounding people with mental health issues.
I can't praise the workshop enough. Your team were absolutely fantastic; so skilled technically, and on a personal level, making everyone feel relaxed and confident enough to open up and share their experiences. I'm so very impressed with them. I hope I can use this pilot to secure more funding and do further work of this nature, as it's of so much value both to the people involved, and to our organisation."
Judith North, Corporate Director:
"We invited StoryWorks to make some short videos with and for the people we support in preparation for an awards ceremony. None of the people we support (who have physical or learning disabilities) were aware that they were award winners. We used the videos on the night to help a 200 strong audience understand the people we support and the gifts they bring to the lives of people who work with and live around them and to reshape people's stories from "disabled" to "achievers".
"The StoryWorks team were an absolute pleasure to work with. They captured both the content and spirit of what we wanted to do and embodied it too. The team are a really talented bunch who showed huge understanding, credibility, sensitivity and integrity in their film making. No request was too small, no detail was unimportant. Their enthusiasm for their work and their support for us through the process of making the films was inspirational and it gave us both courage and confidence that our dream of an awards ceremony would live and would work.
"On the night the films were massively well received. They were the foundation and art of a night that was very special and that we and the people we support and their families and people from out local communities will remember forever. Thank you."
DIGITAL STORIES:
- 'Different Person' by Glyn Coulson
- 'All Mine' -by Claire Haycock
Sarah Puntoni, Healthcare Improvement Support Officer and Participant, 1000 Lives Campaign:
"Members of the 1000 Lives Campaign staff received two days intensive training on the development of digital stories (plus extra follow up assistance). Thanks to Storyworks' help and patience we produced 8 digital stories and we are now confident enough to develop more in-house.
"The training was excellent and very flexible to accommodate our needs. Assistance pre and post training was superb and everyone involved was a terrific help in ensuring we developed some excellent material and understood this fantastic media.
"The training meant we were able to produce content that we can use in training and presentations. It was also extremely helpful to understand this growing media so we can help and support other NHS organisations that are considering exploring and developing their own Digital Stories.
"We would hightly recommend Storyworks. The team is extremely helpful and knowledgeable - it was a great pleasure to work with them and we look forward to further collaborations in the future!"
DIGITAL STORIES:
- 'The WHO checklist' by Jeremy Thomas
Helen Jolley, Project Officer:
"StoryWorks have undertaken a project at Velindre Cancer Centre involving varying aspects of patient stories for improvement purposes. Including the design and delivery of training workshops delivered in tandem proving popular with both frontline and managerial staff. StoryWorks has also undertaken a series of Digital Story workshops with Velindre Patients with the aim to produce a set of very personal digital stories that our patients are able to design and are free to talk about the issues of most important to them. These digital stories will go on to be used throughout the centre to improve patient services and safety to ensure we are able to tackle the issues most important to the patient.
"The StoryWorks team demonstrated their considerable experience when designing and delivering the training workshops for staff. The feedback I received from all staff involved in the workshops was extremely positive and all felt that it was an extremely worthwhile course. Story Works also produced a report after each set of workshops which allowed the information gathered in these sessions to filter up the organization.
"Digital Storytelling allows the patient to be in full control of their story. They are able to drive the process right from the word go by choosing their own images and by recording exactly what they want to say. Also having the opportunity to be part of the editing process is very important, making sure that the finished product was exactly what they envisioned the whole way through.
"Digital Storytelling provides an excellent way of reaching a variety of audiences, in respect to the organization digital storytelling is a powerful tool with several benefits. There is nothing more powerful than hearing a story from a patient face to face however this form of storytelling is not always practical. Digital Storytelling allows us to use the power of the patient voice with a practical delivery method. Digital recordings and images can be used on multiple occasions, quickly and easily avoiding unnecessary inconvenience or distress to the patient."
DIGITAL STORIES
- 'The Cancer Curse' by Cathy Fisher
- 'Changed Forever' by Andrew Wilcock
Aneurin Bevan Health Board
Dr Alka Ahuja, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and Honorary Lecturer:
"The digital stories produced by StoryWorks have been used as a valuable resource in teaching medical students, nurses, occupational therapists and psychiatry trainees. They have also been presented at the Royal College of Psychiatrists Welsh Division meeting and received positive feedback from the faculty members.
"They have proved to be a powerful tool in conveying sensitive messages to professionals and have helped them to reflect over their practice.
"The material has also been shared with some families known to the CAMHS services in group settings and was well received. The research project and stories have been selected by the Aneurin Bevan Helathcare Board to be presented at their 1st R&D conference which will give an opportunity to share the material with professionals from all over the health board."
DIGITAL STORIES:
Age Alliance Wales: WRVS, RSVP
Lowri Griffiths, Media and Public Affairs Manager, WRVS Wales:
"Age Alliance Wales is delighted to have been able to work wtih Storyworks to develop a series of audio and visiual digital stories about the lives of older people. Storyworks' team was professional and empathetic to the needs of the Alliance's volunteers and clients and we have come away with a wonderful product which we have been able to use again and again to promote the work of our sector across Wales."
DIGITAL STORIES:
- 'I Wake Up Smiling' by Sandra Anstiss
- 'Rhiwbina Lunch Club' by WRVS
Maria Boffey, Project Worker:
"StoryWorks worked with us to produce digital stories with young care leavers.
"The digital stories are - in content, presentation and impact, a major contribution to our better understanding about the issues that children in care face. The digital stories have had real impact with their audience and the contributors themselves. They will be great help in breaking down stigma and barriers. I found the digital stories fascinating, and heart-warming. It was good to have reinforced the things that are important to all of us - family, friends, home and a sense of belonging. Despite the variety in style and content, it was interesting to see how certain common themes emerged.
"We have used the digital stories far and wide. They were the main focus at the launch of our campaign in 2008 to encourage more people to consider fostering. The event was attended by foster carers, social care professionals and young people with experience of foster care. Jane Hutt, minister for children, education, lifelong learning and skills, met with these young care-experienced people before the launch. The stories are used in training foster carers and other professionals such as social workers. It also raised the confience of the storytellers themselves - one young person was inspired to engage in volunteer work for care leavers."
DIGITAL STORIES:
