The Big Scottish Story Ripple 2023

Monday 2 October – Thursday 30 November

Schools and community groups can apply for funded storytelling sessions delivered by a Scottish Storytelling Forum professional storyteller, we cover the cost of the storyteller’s fee and in return, applicants offer a good deed back to their community on or before St Andrew’s Day (30th Nov) – continuing the ripple of kindness!

Last year 21 local areas across Scotland took part, accumulating 123 Storytelling events in total. This year, The Big Scottish Story Ripple hopes to make an even bigger splash with more events and more acts of kindness happening across Scotland.

We aim to offer financial support to all those that apply. However, if there is an over subscription, we will operate on a first come, first served basis, so please get your application in as soon as possible and before the deadline of Monday 11 September at 5pm.

For more info, please get in touch by emailing: [email protected]

Before you apply, please read our T&Cs and complete the application form:

Terms & Conditions   Register here

The Big Scottish Story Ripple is the Scottish International Storytelling Festival’s annual community and family programme, which pairs local storytellers with schools and community groups throughout Scotland to host a storytelling events. Groups apply for a subsidy that covers the cost of their storyteller’s fees and in return, successful applicants offer a good deed back to their local community on or before St Andrew’s Day.

In 2022 the Big Scottish Story Ripple hosted over 120 sessions, amounting to 123 good deeds, delivered by 41 different storytellers, with over 3,200 people taking part, sharing over 700 stories together.

Areas where sessions took place: Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Aberdeen City, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, Aberdeenshire, Edinburgh City, Glasgow, Dundee City, Perth and Kinross, Clackmannanshire, East Lothian, East Dunbartonshire, South Lanarkshire, Moray, Stirling, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Midlothian, Highland, West Lothian, Scottish Borders.

Browse the Directory of Storytellers

“Something magical was created that day. Sharing and hearing stories, igniting curiosity, and forming connections.” – Participant

The Stone Soup Collective is a series of events, facilitated by a storyteller in partnership with a community hub in their local area, hosting a ceilidh of stories, songs, food and dance, right in the heart of the community.

The Stone Soup is a European folk story in which strangers convince the people of a town to each share a small amount of their food to make a larger meal that everyone can enjoy. At the heart of this story is a message of welcoming strangers, integration, kindness and sharing our resources to enable community strength and support.

Find out more!