How Bradford’s Children Are Becoming Heroes of Their Own Stories

At this year’s Bingley Festival, I had the joy of sharing the growing magic behind The Adventures of Bradford, a movement empowering children to imagine, create, and share their own hero stories.

Live on Bradford Community Radio, we explored how storytelling is unlocking imagination and confidence across classrooms, and how it all started with one question to my son.

A Platypus Sidekick and a Sea Monster Quest

Last summer, after finishing a bedtime read of Treasure Island, I turned to Gabriel and asked: “Shall we make up a story where you’re the hero?”

His answer was instant: Yes.

He didn’t want to be a passive listener anymore, he wanted to defeat sea monsters, go on quests, and team up with a very specific sidekick: a platypus. (Robin to his Batman, of course.)

I took notes as he narrated. No pressure, no grammar lessons, just the pure joy of orating a story. Over time, it became The Adventures of Gabriel, and what started as a personal project has become a growing movement.

Stories That Belong to Children

Now, through school workshops across the city, children in Years 5 and 6 are creating their own versions of heroic quests. In pairs, one child tells their story while the other writes it down, just like I did with Gabriel.

This removes the pressure of blank pages and allows children to focus on what matters most: their ideas.

They decide:

• Who their hero is

• What powers they possess

• Who joins them as a companion

• What challenge they’ll overcome

• And, of course, what victory awaits at the end

The results? Gloriously unfiltered. Stories of dragons, UFOs, phoenixes, underwater cities, and time-travelling missions to save the world.

“They’re saving humanity and defeating aliens,” I shared on air. “It’s absolutely wonderful. They’re completely inspiring us with their imagination.”

You Can Start Right Now

So many young minds are bursting with stories, but putting them on paper can feel overwhelming.

My advice?

“Start at the kitchen table. Let them speak. You write.”

Ask your child to tell you a story. Be their scribe. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling, just let the imagination flow. You’ll be amazed at what they come up with when the pressure is gone and their voice is honoured.

A Proud Tradition of Orated Stories

As I told BCB at Bingley, this isn’t new. Bradford has a deep-rooted tradition of storytelling through voice, from music hall performances to monologues handed down through generations.

I can still hear my grandfather’s voice in my head, sharing stories in his rich Yorkshire accent. I never read a word of them, but I remember every tale.

That’s the power of storytelling. It lives on, even if it’s never written down.

Get Involved

If you're a young storyteller, a parent, or a teacher in Bradford:

Explore school workshops at
www.theadventuresofgabriel.com/bradford

Let’s keep nurturing these young voices. Let’s help them feel heard. Let’s make storytelling a source of confidence, creativity, and community pride.

“Take away the worry. Don’t stress about punctuation. Just tell the story.” — Kate