Reading aloud can be the start of a tale with a happy ending

However, this year’s National Storytelling Week, is looking for people to reclaim the ancient art form and do their bit for Yorkshire’s elderly population in the process.

According to research carried out by the Reader Organisation, which works with older people across the country, storytelling is not just a way of whiling away a few hours, but can help those who have become isolated due to age or illness re-engage with the wider world.

“We started the Get into Reading groups a number of years ago,” says Katie Clark, older people’s project manager for the organisation. “Each is led by a trained project worker and volunteer and they are now run everywhere from care homes to libraries to prisons and refugee centres.

“However, wherever they take place, the principle is the same. The group reads a poem or a story aloud, taking time over the text, rather than rushing to the last full stop. Some members join in with the reading, others just listen, but for all involved the effects can be profound.

“Over time we have seen how reading aloud allows people to build up their confidence to a point where they feel able to share their own stories. For many it’s the first stepping stone in rebuilding their own lives and for others the groups become a real lifeline, helping to keep them on a more even keel.

“Storytelling makes it possible for everyone to engage with books and poems and listening to and reading aloud different stories has a huge impact on wellbeing and mood.”

As part of this year’s campaign, a group of Bupa care homes across Yorkshire is looking for people willing to bring stories to life for their elderly residents.

“The aim is to bring people of all ages together to feed imaginations, share memories and help celebrate the lost art of storytelling,” says Laura Hardaker, Bupa’s community affairs assistant. “Professional storytellers will of course be welcome, but really we want ordinary people who have their own tale to tell. Storytelling is a two-way process and you can see on our residents’ faces just how much it means to them when a complete stranger sits down with them for even just half an hour to tell them some classic fable or read them a poem.”

National Storytelling Week was first launched in 2000. Each year the calendar of events has grown and the organisation now has its own storytelling laureate to promote the art throughout the rest of the year.

“Many, many years ago, when the only form of communication was by word of mouth, stories were the sole means of education and spreading news,” says a spokesman for the organisation. “They taught who we were, where we came from and these basic stories are still as relevant today as they were centuries ago.

“These stories are not learned by rote or read from books but retold by the tellers, making each interpretation unique. Last year’s event reached an audience of thousands ranging from three to 93 and showed storytelling is more than just performance or entertainment; it can also educate, heal, lead to better practice in business, inspire and change lives.”

For more details of the storytelling scheme call 0845 600 4622 or email [email protected]