Children aged 8-12 from North Ayrshire and Scotland are being encouraged to create and share a tale about a Historic Environment Scotland site, taking inspiration from over 5,000 years of Scotland’s history as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) hopes to inspire young storytellers through heritage as part of its ‘If These Walls Could Talk’ project.
Children can submit their 150-300 word written story or a two-minute storytelling video by Friday 24 June.
A showreel featuring some of the most inspiring entries will be created and shared on HES’s social media channels and website as part of the Year of Stories 2022.
All participants will be entered into a draw, where they can win a year-long Historic Scotland family membership for one year; a Historic Scotland 7-day family explorer pass; book bundles and writing kits; a signed set of Cressida Cowell How to Train Your Dragon books; a one-hour storytelling session for a school or library; or tickets for the Storytelling Festival in October for their whole class.
Alex Paterson, Chief Executive of HES, said:
"Our historic houses, castles and abbeys have been linked to stories throughout history and I look forward to finding out how they continue to inspire young people today.
"In addition to a range of fantastic prizes on offer for the participants, including a signed set of books from the best-selling children’s author Cressida Cowell, the voices of young people up and down the country will be celebrated through a showreel to highlight their diverse and creative tales, providing an opportunity for their perspectives to be featured and showcased as part of Scotland’s themed year."
Kenneth Gibson MSP added:
“It’s always good to get children to use their imagination and the year of story telling is just perfectly themed for that.
“The story doesn’t have to be about a place in North Ayrshire, but there are some inspiring HES sites including Skelmorlie Aisle, Lochranza Castle and Kilwinning Abbey.
“I hope schools, parents and carers across North Ayrshire encourage their 8-12 year olds to participate and have some fun with this!”
HES has partnered with Scottish Book Trust and the Scottish Storytelling Forum to deliver the project and will engage with local schools and youth organisations to encourage young people to take part.
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