The Big Scottish Story Ripple 2024

Monday 7 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 28 local areas across Scotland took part, accumulating 125 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 2 September at 5pm.

For more info, please get in touch by emailing: storytelling@tracscotland.org

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

Terms & Conditions   Register here

SSF Directory storytellers can apply to hold two storytelling sessions.  However, if we are over-subscribed, we may only be able to offer one funded session.

We cover the cost of your storytelling fee and in return, you and your group offer a good deed back to your local community on or before St Andrew’s Day (30th Nov) – continuing the ripple of kindness!

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 2nd September.

Apply Now

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 2023, there were 120 applications to the Story Ripple from schools, community groups and local storytellers all over Scotland, amounting to 252 sessions overall applied for. A marked increase on previous years. SISF were able to fund 125 sessions so that everyone who applied received at least one funded session.  Over 6,244 people took part listening to and telling over 750 stories together told by 48 different storytellers.

Areas where sessions took place included: Orkney, Western Isles, West Dunbartonshire, Argyll and Bute, Falkirk, East Ayrshire, 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!