University of West London outreach team builds young people's confidence with storytelling

A group of young students studying together.

University of West London outreach team builds young people's confidence with storytelling

28 September 2023

UWL is using creative and engaging storytelling workshops to build confidence for youth in the West London area to develop literacy and oracy skills.

Fronting the innovative initiative at UWL is Outreach Officer and storyteller Jordan Campbell, who says,

Speaking and listening skills are the building blocks of literacy. Oral storytelling is a powerful way for young people to develop enthusiasm and confidence in their language skills which translates into their reading and writing."

Jordan, a former teacher, uses world folktales to engage West London’s multicultural youth. At the start of each workshop, he tells a story that serves as the basis for the session. Voice, movement, and language are key to connecting and inspiring youngsters. Students are then encouraged to create their own tales which they perform to an audience in a final showcase.

Over the past academic year, UWL’s outreach team has partnered with organisations including Ealing Council and the Hounslow Education Partnership to deliver storytelling sessions to over 500 youngsters including:

120 primary-aged children who participated in a six-week project.
36 students aged 11-14 who collaborated in a 3-week programme.
Some 13 to 16-year-olds who have been permanently excluded from mainstream education took part in 10-week programmes.
A number of 8 – 12-year-olds in the care system who joined a week-long programme across UWL’s Ealing campus.

Commenting on Jordan’s sessions a Year 7 student says,

I really enjoyed the storytelling workshop because we got told stories that were about fantasy adventure and war. You can learn novel words and it can help with your literature like it did for me, which you can then impress others with."

Whole School Literacy Coordinator at Heston Community School, Raveena Kyriacou says,

It has been a real joy to have Jordan working with our students. He has been with us twice now for two full days, working with Year 7, 8 and 9 students…He manages to keep students engaged and I have seen noticeable improvements in students’ confidence and oracy skills.”

Schools in West London interested in signing up to the scheme can contact outreachteam@uwl.ac.uk.

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