Tales from our conference ‘Using Stories for Belonging’
An event organised by The Story Project saw two authors inspire Bradford teachers to support children’s sense of belonging using books as part of the organisation’s wider funded project in the city.
The event, titled ‘Using Stories for Belonging’, was created to celebrate the impact of wellbeing and reading in schools across the city. The schools involved are all members of The Story Project, which has received funding to work in Bradford from 2023 to 2029 to support schools in areas of deprivation.
The programme uses a research-backed lesson framework alongside high quality children’s books to help young people talk about and manage their emotions and wellbeing.
Marking the halfway point of the funding in Bradford, the authors were invited to speak to local teachers about their experiences of books and the impact they have had on their lives.
Marca Hutchinson MBE, shortlisted nominee of the Women’s Prize in Fiction 2026, spoke about her life growing up in Manningham and the challenges she faced. She spoke passionately about the difference that books and education made to her; resulting in Marcia being the first pupil from Belle Vue Girls’ Academy to attend Oxford University.
Richard O’Neill MBE, author of over 30 children’s books, also spoke to the group. He shared how isolated he felt joining a school for the first time as a young boy from a Romani traveler community. He described how learning to read and then connecting with stories changed his life. Richard described with great passion how stories are integral to how children perceive themselves. He stated ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’, highlighting the importance of positive representation in books.
The authors were followed by accounts from teachers, who shared how stories and The Story Project curriculum are helping children to express how they feel, to learn about wellbeing in a safe way and to manage their emotions effectively.
One teacher noted how this was encouraging quieter children to speak up. Another teacher described how a young boy in her class, who had been reading a book about different types of families, had proudly described his own family set-up; something he had not had the confidence to do prior to this.
Olivia Richards, CEO of The Story Project, said “it was incredible to see so many of the schools we work with and to celebrate all the hard work they have put in over the last three years. Hearing them describe how stories are supporting children’s sense of self was very rewarding and we are looking forward to the next three years and beyond”.
Teachers attending the conference were not only able to hear from inspirational authors and like-minded peers, but were also able to access the free bookshop available at the event; which provided each delegate with a free book of their choice. The stall was provided by The Little Bookshop, Skipton.
To extend the impact of the programme, teachers from across Bradford and beyond are now able to access a free resource based on Richard O’Neill’s newest book ‘The Story Bridge’. The book champions belonging and encourages readers too see how our many similarities out way our differences. The Story Project team have created an assembly to sit alongside this book, the resources of which can be accessed in their free trial or through member schools’ account page.
The Story Project team and schools across Bradford are now looking forward to a further three years of funding, provided by Shine Trust and their donors, which will continue the wonderful impact they have seen so far. For instance, a recent report from ImpactEd showed that children’s empathy as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ rose from 22% to 72% after using The Story Project programme.
The continued funding means that new schools can access funded places with The Story Project.
