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Arts including music, drama, craft and art, Education, training and learning, Hobbies and interests, Socialising, companionship and friendship, Work or volunteering,

Openstorytellers is a charity based in Somerset for people with learning disabilities and autism.

We offer activities based around telling and sharing stories – day services, projects, courses, workshops and events that help hundreds of people every year. We believe stories are important in building relationships and helping everyone to fully participate in society.

Stories are important. They feed our imagination, fill our dreams, entertain and inspire us. We use stories every day of our lives – every time we see friends, visit the doctor, talk to employers, teachers, social workers and ticket collectors. Stories are the way we understand what has happened in our lives and who we are as individual people.

Openstorytellers helps people gain the skills to share all sorts of stories: myths and legends and personal experiences – so they can be heard, understood and have choices in life.

Based in our Community Hub in the heart of Frome, Somerset, our work also includes work skills and employment support, advocacy and citizenship groups, friendship and life skills projects, multi-sensory storytelling for people with profound disabilities, and, of course, we have ‘The Openstorytellers’ – a professional user-led company of storytellers with learning disabilities.

Openstorytellers works with schools, social care and community organisations, festivals and arts projects spreading our message, creativity and positivity through story.

One of our members says:

I used to be shy and quiet and in a shell, now I communicate with people more easily. In eight years I’ve made a lot of friends. I do storytelling, office work, performance, workshops, but mostly illustrating. It’s made me speak to people, made me kinder.

Last Updated: 10th February, 2020