Re-writing the Peace in partnership: The intersection of storytelling and emotional wellbeing

Northern Ireland has the highest levels of deprivation in the UK – 25% according to Nuffield Foundation research Trajectories of deprivation in the UK. It also has the highest levels of education deprivation (27%), 8% higher than Yorkshire and the Humber, ranked second at 19%. The Republic of Ireland is much wealthier, although there are still areas of high deprivation, particularly in the border counties, which experienced significant social and economic disruption during the conflict.

The Derry/Londonderry-based charity Verbal is working across the island of Ireland to improve mental health and emotional wellbeing through creative engagement, with a particular delivery focus on areas of high deprivation. Created in 1992, the organisation’s original focus was on improving community relations through literature and language arts. “Now, the majority of our work is at the intersection between Applied storytelling and emotional wellbeing,” says James Kerr, Chief Executive at Verbal.

Making a difference

The charity works with marginalised and vulnerable groups – children on the autism spectrum, children in care or on the edge of care, people in prison, older people in care homes for example – to help them improve their emotional wellbeing and build resilience through applied storytelling, psychology and experiential learning.

Kerr explained: “We are working in areas with some of the highest levels of deprivation in the UK. So, going to university isn't necessarily a first choice for a lot of people. Speaking as an employer, it can be hard to find the right people to facilitate our programmes.”

Kerr added young people often need extra support at key transition points – when leaving school after their GCSEs, for example, when anxiety levels are high. “We try to give them the ability to own and tell their own story and to use that to build up the coping mechanisms that will enable them to stay in school, or go into further education or into higher education.

In 2024, Verbal secured EU funding from PEACEPLUS for a new project called PEACE of Mind. The project aims to improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people aged 9-25 years in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. The free six-week storytelling programme focuses on six themes: social media, positive roles and relationships, conflict resolution, building a cohesive society, stress and worry and managing emotions. It is expected the project will enhance the mental health and wellbeing of 25,000 young people.

The Open University (OU) is a project partner, sharing academic expertise and insights during the research and evaluation process – including using the award-winning nQuire platform.

Expanding the partnership

Verbal was also the recipient of a £25k OU Open Societal Challenges award for “Beyond ‘Liking’ or ‘Not Liking’: Co-Created Stories for Social Media Resilience’, a project tackling the impact of social media specifically on young girls aged 16-17 years on their emotional wellbeing and overall mental health.

Kerr says Verbal works with numerous universities, but that its partnership with the OU has been particularly successful. “The OU has been fantastic – the openness of the academics across many departments, development staff and senior management is so positive – everyone is focused on listening and hearing what it is that we need and trying to make it happen.”