Digital Storytelling in Falkirk: The People’s Story Project

We’ve a guest blogger this week: Sabine Hellman, our Digital Storyteller, wants to share her exciting project!

My name is Sabine and I have been working since October from Grangemouth Library to deliver a lovely new project: The People’s Story Project. Our aim is to engage a wide range of community groups to tell personal stories from the local area – be it historic events of significance, memories of daily life in the 60s, 70s or 80s, achievements or challenges people are facing today or an inspiration in their life. We all have stories to tell – many of whom are rarely heard.

Once the stories emerge in our workshops, they’ll be getting the digital treatment! The narration will be recorded using an iPad and an external microphone. This builds the backbone of a digital story. The next step is all about the visuals – finding the right photographs or even creating drawings. The storyteller can explore different ways of how their story should look.

Storytelling project digital equipment

Once those two elements have been created, they’ll come together in a simple editing process, using the app iMovie. The best part is always sharing the finished digital stories and seeing the reactions of fellow storytellers. This project aims to help those less confident with digital technology to explore those challenges in an engaging way – by sharing and capturing stories from the local area. Some stories are very moving and sad, others are inspirational and uplifting. Most importantly, each story is part of a big puzzle of life in the district, past and present!

PSP Staff Training

Do you know a local group who would enjoy this project? Are you visiting the library often and want to try out an iPad and tell your story? I’m happy to meet you and chat more about creating your own digital story!

Get in touch: Sabine is based at Grangemouth Library, pop by or drop her an email: sabine.hellmann@falkirkcommunitytrust.org