17/5/2005 - Celebration day for Cumbrian storytellers

23 Cumbrians have successfully developed a story from their lives to broadcast standard for the BBC.

The first phase of the "Telling Lives" - My Life, A Personal Story" project culminates in a celebration day at Shap Wells Hotel on Tuesday 24th May between 10.00 and 14.00. The participants will receive certificates and CD copies of their story.

The "Telling Lives" scheme was developed by Cumbria County Council Adult Education Service’s Skills for Life Team in partnership with the Learning Skills Council and the BBC.

The project was a 30-hour course taught over eight weeks at three centres in Cumbria - Frizington, Cartmel and Distington. 23 people aged between 25 and 85, worked together with literacy and community tutors and a BBC guide to choose, develop and tell stories from their lives. 

Ron Creer, Project Manager for Telling Lives says

"The people involved had no formal qualifications but they did have a wide experience of life, over the weeks their confidence and competence developed from anxiety and uncertainty in the beginning to excitement and determination to progress. Everyone involved can be proud of their achievements."

The next step in the programme will see Telling Lives expand across the County with centres in Carlisle, Ambleside, Cartmel, Ormsgill, Carlisle, Whitehaven, and Frizington.

Some of the final stories have already appeared on the BBC website. They can be seen on http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/insidelives/index.shtml