Looking at how to develop health websites to include people with learning disabilites by Katie

On Monday 11th march  2019  Me, Jade and Robin from Openstorytellers met our colleague Katy at Bath Spa Station  and had a long to journey to get to Bracknell.
Then we caught a taxi that took us to Bracknell Open Learning Centre to meet Mary Waight, Warren Oldreive, and Deborah Chinn who organized  the event.
Then we listened  to Warren  Mary and the sudents who attend self -advocacy group with LD in Berkshire with their presentation, then it was Openstorytellers  turn. I  mentored  Katy with training on how to do a presention on the easy read lefleat about our chairty , I felt  very confiedent  and enjoyed doing  the presentation in front of 24 people and listening to Robin's  presentation about his artist business. Then we summed up the moring with a  task- what dream we would like  to see on the  website?
We had a delious  spread of food!  Sandwishes crisps and  fruit, also drinks throughout the day and biscuits. In the aftenoon we split up into 3 groups to see how we could implement  the dream ideals , I said I would like to see home symbol and symbols for hearing  impairiments, visual impairments and  wheel chair accessible, then we left the venueto  start  our jouney home.
 We said thanks Mary for inviting us to  Bracknell Open Learning Centre to share  the presentations  with them , they gave us a box of chocolates to say well done, and have a safe journey home.
 I had a good trip to Bracknell. Thankyou Jade and Katy for taking us there.

Katie Branch28 .3.2019

Upcoming event the Bardic chair

Hi all  we are  hosting a Bardic chair competition  at the Hub nub on Thursday 6th December.
This year is going to be a smaller event for  open storytellers and family to come along to support .
 If  you are interesting in telling a  story please contact our office info@openstorytellers.org.uk so we know how many people  are telling . 

Best wishes
Katie

Performance of Fanny Fust at Glen side Hospital Musem

On Monday 15th October  we  performed  Fanny  Fust  at Glenside  Hospital Museum  in  front of the  Misfits  and  other people.
Everybody enjoyed the performance  and asked questions  about  Fanny Fust. There were  about  35 people  came  to watch us at the performance.
 People said " I quite enjoyed the  enthusiasm and optimism that the actors showed, it added to the atmosphere and made it fun. I liked the creativity around the props, especially the wagon wheels.! Joshua
" Really good, the actors were really into it and really could tell they had practised a lot.! Chris
" They  put  heart  and souls  into it and it was very informative!' Heather
"I like that they had done so much research and it was interesting that Fanny might actually  have had  Downs Syndrome.! Dave


We are looking forward to taking  Fanny  Fust  out on tour to various places. I have enjoyed doing Fanny Fust

project.

Katie Branch
 15.11.18

Fanny Fust Performance at The Merlin Theatre

Thank you for coming to see our performance in Frome Festival, we are still buzzing from our show at the Merlin theatre on Friday 13th July 2018.
We worked really hard on our performance, we were well rehearsed and gave the best show.
 The reaction of the audience was so powerful. Our confidence grew as the play went on. We were able to share what we learnt about 18th Century life. 
Our family and friends enjoyed the story of Fanny Fust and joined in with the song, they found it funny, touching also very moving.
we all couldn't do it without our helper's so thank you for their help.
we are hoping to take Fanny Fust on tour to reach different people in the audience.

We really feel like our theatre company is as professional as any other. This story has helped us to share our experiences of having a learning disability, which is something we live with and it makes us better storytellers. 88 people came to our performance and 70 people said we should take it on tour.

  

Trip to Taunton to get the cheque

On  the Tuesday  1st May 2018    Katie went to  Taunton  county council with Emma  and Jade  to receive a cheque  from William  Wallace, as we were one of his chosen charity.  We had a lovely surprise of how much  he raise  much more than we  expected . We also meet Carol James  who work as William"s PA  told her all about what we do the Open storytellers. William  Wallace  told us that the  new chair of Somerset County Council  is David Forthergill  and  that William would  recommend Openstorytellers to David to be his chosen charity!

By Katie  Branch

19 .7.2018

Fanny Fust's trip to Clarks museum in Street

 This is Robins visit to Clarks museum in Street Somerset, with his Fanny Fust to look at 18th century shoes, in the 1780 style which had strap-ons with low-heeled slippers which Fanny Fust would have worn in Bristol, when she was kidnapped by Henry Bowerman.

The shoe collection had a set of buckles which were made by the Clarks brothers when they were young men in the 1780s.
They were shoemakers in a old house in Street, Somerset who might have worked with the Bath and Wiltshire cloth makers. They made the clothing that Fanny Fust might have worn in those days. 

 

Heritage Lottery Fund Visit

Today we had a visit from Johnathan and Rebecca from Heritage Lottery Fund. They very kindly funded the Fanny Fust project.
They came to find out what we have been doing. Rob talked about his illustrations.  Brad and Sue talked about playing the characters Henry and Fanny.We showed them some of the show. The bit where the Plotters formed their dastardly plan and …..well, you will have to come and see our show and find out on Friday 13th July at the Merlin Theatre.