Tell Their Stories Now

At the Cheltenham Literature Festival in October 2024, with ideas fizzing in the air, I found myself in a packed tent listening to Helen Fielding, the iconic voice behind Bridget Jones. She was brilliant: warm, funny, sharp as ever. But it was one line she said during her talk that really struck me, right in the gut:

“I wrote for the women I stood beside.”

Not from above. Not from behind a lectern. Just shoulder to shoulder, speaking her own truth to her own generation.

Then someone asked whether she could write for Gen Z today. She paused and smiled.

“No,” she said. “Their world, their language, it’s different. I hear it through my daughter’s friends. But they’re brilliant. Witty. The way they tell stories through TikTok, it’s so clever. They don’t need me to write it for them. They should be writing for each other.”

That moment lit something in me. Children today do have their own voice, and it’s bold, creative, and hilarious. They’ve lived through COVID, digital overload, and the pressure to be perfect. And they deserve the space to tell those stories.

I was so moved I ran back to where I was staying, grabbed a couple of Gabriel’s books, stories we’ve written together, and ran all the way back to the festival. The queue was already long, but I waited. I was the very last one.

When I finally reached her, I handed her a copy of The Adventures of Gabriel. I thanked her for what she’d said about generations writing for each other, and about kids being such powerful, funny storytellers in their own right. She smiled warmly, took Gabriel’s book, and then signed the other one for him with words I’ll never forget:

“It’s your story. Tell it like you’re talking to a friend.”

That’s the heart of what we do at StoryQuest™.

We make space for children to tell their stories, not the adult versions, not the neat ones, but the real ones. And when they do? They grow. They connect. They heal.

These stories matter. They don’t just entertain, they transform their confidence and self aspiration.

And yet, here’s the reality:

• 1 in 4 UK kids feel anxious because of school pressure.

• Children labelled “dyslexic” or “ADHD” are bullied twice as often.

• Schools, facing £2 billion in cuts, are forced to prioritise tests over talk.

But storytelling works:

• It boosts self-esteem by 20%.

• It builds empathy.

• It rewires the brain for trust and connection.

• It’s healing, not just for the child telling the story, but for everyone listening.

Still, only 15% of UK schools prioritise oral storytelling.

We can change that—but not without you.

Here’s how you can help:

📢 MPs – Fund storytelling in schools. Give children voices, not just assessments.
🏫 Councils – Partner with StoryQuest™. Let’s make every community space a stage.
📰 Media – Share these stories. Show the power of a child being heard.
💸 Funders – Support this work. £1 spent on storytelling saves £14 down the line in mental health.
🎓 Researchers – Study this impact. Let’s prove what kids already know: stories are survival.
📱 Influencers – Share a story. Help young voices find an audience that listens.

I left Cheltenham with Helen’s words ringing in my ears. And Gabriel’s book clutched to my chest.

His story, like every child’s, is his to tell. All we need to do is make sure he gets the chance.

Will you help us Tell Their Stories Now?