Voices That Soar

Over the past week, our “Adventures of Bradford” storytelling initiative has been featured in three fantastic publications: the Yorkshire Post, MSN, and the Yorkshire Evening Post. Each time I see the city of Bradford's young storytellers celebrated, I think of my grandad, a true Yorkshireman whose gift for storytelling is still in my memory.

He didn’t just tell stories, he performed them. Long, winding monologues filled with humour, wisdom, and that unmistakable Yorkshire warmth. As a child, I was spellbound, hanging onto every word. That’s how I learned that stories don’t always live on a page, they live in voices, in people. It’s that memory,  of listening and being drawn into whole worlds, that perhaps inspired me to listen to and transcribe Gabriel’s orated tales. That’s how The Adventures of Gabriel was born.

People are sometimes surprised when I tell them Gabriel doesn’t write his stories down, he speaks them. They assume he can’t read, write, or spell. But actually, what we’re tapping into is something ancient and powerful: the art of oral storytelling. And truthfully, it’s how most of us connect every day, through conversation, voice notes, Zoom calls, shared laughter. It’s not a lost art. It’s just one we’ve forgotten to celebrate.

Now, through “Adventures of Bradford,” that tradition lives on, not just in Gabriel, but in children all across our city. I know my grandad would be grinning from ear to ear, knowing that his great-grandson and a whole generation of young storytellers are carrying the torch forward.

The coverage this week captured that spirit beautifully. The Yorkshire Post described it as a “mother-led child powered initiative” inspiring confidence and creativity. MSN celebrated how storytelling helps children find their voices through collaboration. And The Yorkshire Evening Post called it an “inspiring” force for young minds.

And this is only the beginning. We’re growing this project across Bradford, building a citywide anthology of children’s stories, all told in their own words and their own way. To every student, teacher, and family who’s joined us: thank you. Your voices are the heartbeat of this movement.

And to anyone reading, come be a part of it. Let’s make Bradford a city that listens, shares, and shines through its stories.

Read more 

Bradford children find their voice through new storytelling initiative - Yorkshire Post

Bradford children find their voice through new storytelling initiative - MSN

Bradford children find their voice through new storytelling initiative - Yorkshire Evening Post