Our role was to understand their commonalities, support collective learning while respecting each organisation’s individuality. We established an approach that worked across the different models, sizes and capacities. This gave venues a clear and practical way to reflect on what they do, who they reach, and how they create change. 

We supported organisations to articulate outcomes around access, participation, community engagement and organisational development. Using story-led methods, we captured lived experience alongside organisational learning, helping venues move beyond numbers to tell meaningful, human stories about their work. 

We then synthesised insight across the cohort to support peer learning, advocacy and future investment. The result was a stronger shared narrative about the value of children’s storytelling venues, grounded in evidence and real experiences, and shaped by the voices of the organisations themselves.

The cohort included Alibi, Discover – Children’s Story Centre, Grimm & Co., Ministry of Stories, Seven Stories, The Reader, The Story Museum, The Writers’ Block and Z-arts.