Back in Summer of 2024, People’s Voice Media launched a project in Liverpool alongside The Bronte Youth & Community Centre. Young people came forward to share their stories and experiences with The Bronte, and contribute ideas for the future of the centre which is currently undergoing renovation work.

Since then, young people have developed skills in Community Reporting and have interviewed staff, peers and members of the community to gather their hopes for the future of the centre as well. These ideas will feed into the work that shapes the future of the building and help create a hub for the local community in Liverpool.

We have compiled the footage collected by the young people into a written insight report, which you can access via the link below. From young people’s vision for it’s the future, to it’s inter-generational impact & legacy, it’s clear that The Bronte has played a significant role in many people’s lives. Take a look and see what people had to say:

You can also view some of the stories recorded as part of the project over on the Community Reporter website here.

The future looks exciting for The Bronte, as young people and staff are currently working on a podcast series with Fact cinema in Liverpool, putting their Community Reporting skills into practice. Head over to the Bronte Youth and Community Centre website to hear more about their work & receive updates on the renovation plans.

Funded by BBC Children in Need, Future Change Makers is a 3-year project that will support young people aged 11-18 from socially and economically disadvantaged communities and youth organisations to use Community Reporting as a changemaking tool.

The project aims to provide young people and youth organisations with skills to create narratives on issues affecting their lives and communities and applying these skills to lead small-scale social action projects. As well training young people we will also run Train the Trainer training supporting youth professionals to deliver Community Reporting training in the future making it sustainable and creating a world of ‘narrative change’ possibilities. 

Alongside the training and supporting youth organisations to use Community Reporting as a changemaking tool, the project will establish a sub-network – the Young People’s Community Reporter (YPCR) network – within the existing Community Reporter network. The YPCR network will also support existing young Community Reporters who are already trained, providing opportunities for further capacity-building and consolidation of skills.

The project has started recruiting organisations for the 3-year programme. We will be kicking off with the first group, Army of Kindness in Rochdale in October. We are looking for organisations that work with disadvantaged children and young people to join us in the exciting project.

If you are interested in getting involved or finding out more, please contact Kath at kath@peoplesvoicemedia.co.uk

Earlier this year, we teamed up with community members in Wigan to share information and skills around Ripple Effect Mapping.

Across a series of 4 sessions, people learnt about the Ripple Effect Mapping process, creating their own maps, learning how to facilitate this approach to impact measurement within their own communities, and developing skills in packaging the findings in the form of written reports and presentations.

The learning from the sessions culminated in a community sharing event, during which the group showcased their Ripple Effect Maps and shared the learning from the workshops.

The group have continued with their work around Ripple Effect Mapping and intend on using this methodology well into the future supporting the development of a range of different community initiatives.

Keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming Community Reporting Project in Wigan!

Throughout August, we have delivered 2 days of Community Reporter Training as part of our ongoing work with Well Doncaster.

Community members from across the region came together to develop new approaches to lived experience storytelling. They learnt about story gathering techniques, including dialogue interviews, snapshot stories, and personal monologues, and how different recording methods and approaches can be used to capture these elements. We covered the basics of photography, audio recording, and how to capture videos with the people they intend to interview. The group also explored what responsible practice looks like, bringing in their own knowledge and expertise into the discussion, helping to equip them with the ethical tools to approach storytelling in a safe and responsible way.

The group will now work towards gathering a set of stories exploring community members’ experiences with living through and accessing cancer services in the local area, receiving a five-hundred-pound grant per person for their commitment and contributions. These stories will be uploaded to the Community Reporter Website to help build a picture of current cancer care services in and around Doncaster. Looking ahead, as part of the Well Doncaster Project, we will be co-hosting a Conversation of Change Event, which will see community members, reporters, and cancer support sector workers come together to discuss what changes need to happen to improve the current system.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Meet Jacqui Darlington from Rutland — a long-time carer, mum, and passionate disability advocate. Jacqui’s journey into community reporting began with Amplifying Voices, a programme designed to empower racialised individuals to share lived experiences through storytelling.

“I’m Jacqui Darlington. I’m passionate about health and social care and the rights of disabled people. I became a community reporter because I believe in giving people a voice and changing perceptions,” Jacqui shares.

As a carer to her son Joshua, who has Down Syndrome, autism and no understandable speech, Jacqui uses creative methods like photos and narration to help him express his story. “Even Joshua, who doesn’t use spoken word, now has a voice,” she says.

Jacqui believes strongly in the power of community reporting to uplift unheard voices. “It’s not just about skills—it’s about building a network, shifting mindsets, and supporting others.”

A fellow community reporter reflects: “People like Jacqui inspire us to think differently and to truly listen to stories that might otherwise go untold.”

Through her work, Jacqui is helping to change hearts and minds—one story at a time.

#AmplifyingVoices #CommunityReporting #DisabilityAdvocacy