Stories at Crisis

Discover how real-life experiences help shape everything we do.

Stories at Crisis

Microcourse

What do you need?

Navigate this e-learning in a few simple steps:

• Progress through the course using the left and right arrows at the top of the screen.
• Audio to each page will start automatically - click the speaker icon to pause and play.
• You can download the course transcript here.

If you have any questions or feedback on this course, please contact learning.development@crisis.org.uk.

Objectives

By the end of this micro learning, you will be able to:

• Identify who the Stories team is and what they do
• Recall the basic principles of storytelling used at Crisis
• List the benefits and risks of sharing member stories

• Describe how the Stories team supports members in telling their stories

• Explain why Crisis supports people to share their stories

• Outline the key steps in the story-sharing process

The Stories Team plays a key role in how Crisis communicates, advocates, and connects with others. They are responsible for gathering and sharing real-life experiences from people supported by the charity, as well as staff, volunteers, and supporters.

These stories are used in a variety of ways - from fundraising campaigns, public awareness work and policy influence. The team works carefully and ethically, ensuring that stories are shared with consent, sensitivity, and respect for the people involved.

Meet the team...

What do we mean by a story?

We mean real-life experiences shared by people who’ve been directly affected by the issues we work on. A story might be:

• A written reflection
• A video or audio interview
• A conversation captured and shared with permission

Why do we support people to share their stories?

Speaking out

Strengthening campaigns

Building skills

Showing impact

Deepening understanding

Inspiring action

Challenging perceptions

What the Stories team does

• Ensure informed, ongoing consent is in place

• Gather, write, and produce stories, including photography and filming

• Provide aftercare and wellbeing support

• Track story use and suggest existing content where relevant

• Work with lead workers and support wider teams across Fundraising, Marketing, and Policy

• Act as trained mental health first aiders and work trauma-informed

Working with storytellers: Our principles

• Single point of contact within stories team – clarity of information, building relationship
• Made clear what uses will be and who might see their story
• Made clear when we might not be able to remove traces of their story
• Made clear if they don’t have full sign-off (e.g. when working with media)

• Consent is more than paperwork. Full sign-off over each use of content and members can choose which opportunities they’re interested in
• No pressure – and avoid over-relying on a small group of members
• Anonymous or named, photo/film or not
• Can withdraw consent

Power

Truth

Transparency

Choice & Control

• Must be factually correct, but also prioritising truth over headlines or impact.
• The story must be true to their character – their story in the way they want to tell it.
• It's a platform for their voice, not ours – though we can support with providing context.

Balance of power: It's not our story.

• Given information to make informed decisions throughout
• Provided with training and support
• Remuneration

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

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Working with the Stories Team

It can be unpredictable – if we don’t have the story needed, having a Plan B is important.

If you need a story, please send a Story brief.

At least 8 weeks in advance lead times to work with members and Skylights.

Try to consult the Stories team at the beginning of a project.

If you need photos and content, please submit a Marketing brief.

What does the process look like for members?

Arrange to chat through story (recorded) and consent

Benefits advice (if needed)

Informal wellbeing chat

Storyteller expresses interest

Wellbeing check post chat/interview

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Transcription and write-up/editing

Find the right opportunity and re-check consent

Review edit with storyteller and sign-off

Feedback or impact from the story shared

Wellbeing checks around publication

Uploaded to media library for two years

Benefits

Risks

Personal growth

Being recognised publicly

Skill development

Legal considerations

Influence and awareness

Emotional impact

Connection and inspiration

Changing circumstances

Recognition and reward

Managing risks and supporting wellbeing

Wellbeing questions

Briefing conversation

Support systems

Consent & control

Informed decision-making

Stories vs Media vs Member Involvement

The Media team will work alongside the Stories team on developing best practice and following Crisis’ consent guidance. However, they are responsible for securing coverage for newspapers, television, radio, and online articles (social media sits under the Stories team). They will get in touch with the Volunteer Involvement Leads for member and staff related enquiries.

The Member Involvement team are responsible for ensuring that people with lived experience of homelessness are involved in the design, delivery and development of Crisis’ work. They ensure lived experience voices are heard throughout all areas of the organisation. They are also responsible for looking after our Expert by Experience group and supporting with any co-production work staff might need for their projects.

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

What about the Media team?

What is Member Involvements role?

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Activity

In this activity, you'll be given a scenario involving a story or request. Your task is to decide which team - Member Involvement, Media, or Stories - is the most appropriate to contact.

How can Lead Workers support with storytelling?

• Identify members who may want to share their story

• Flag any known risks, convictions, or wellbeing needs to the Stories team

• Support with wellbeing checks

• Let them know if a member is due to exit, so we can plan support

• Stay informed - how we communicate is up to you and the member

• Join the briefing or story chat if it feels right for you and the member

Abdul's story

Here’s another example of the Stories team’s work - an interview with Abdul, where he shares his personal journey and experience of homelessness.

Who's who?

Stephen's Story

J's Story

Charlotte's Story

Reveal

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Charlotte's Story

J's Story

Stephen's Story

SHELTER

Crisis

Crisis focuses on telling stories from first person perspective with a holistic approach. It's not just about their experiences of homelessness but also the future and their achievements.

Shelter focuses on families and legal cases.

Salvation Army

Difference in framing. For instance, Crisis looks at wider challenges in the system and pressures felt by those experiencing homelessness

Course completed!

Thank you for taking the time to complete this e-learning and broaden your understanding of storytelling at Crisis. If you have any questions please contact stories the Stories Team via stories@crisis.org.uk.

We hope you found this course useful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback on this microcourse, or learning and development in general, please contact the Learning & Organisational Development team via development@crisis.org.uk.

J*, a 34 year old British man, had battled substance abuse for many years until things began to spiral downwards and he became homeless. During this extremely vulnerable stage of his life, J was targeted by drug dealers who forced him to sell drugs on their behalf, without pay. J’s relationship with the dealers quickly changed from false promises of money to threats and coercion making it impossible for him to escape his situation. This nightmare ended when police became involved and recognised that J was a victim and not a perpetrator of these crimes. He was referred to X for support and moved to another part of the country, far from where his traffickers were operating. X worked with J to link him to local services, helping him with his substance abuse problems, and arranged for him to access a programme at a local gym, which gave him a meaningful activity each day and improved his health. In the meantime they worked alongside J to help him decide what he wanted to do with his newfound freedom. “I was in a very difficult part of my life and being taken advantage of. X has given me all the support I needed to start again and I am very optimistic for my future.”

Ilayda Cakir: Stories Manager

Emma McMahon: Stories Executive

Contact: stories@crisis.org.uk

When Stephen and his family were searching for a new home, they faced ‘no DSS’ discrimination at every turn. X helped them to find a suitable home. But Stephen wanted to stop others from having to go through the same experience. By sharing his story and working with X, he took the estate agents to court and won a ‘landmark case’ that proved the way they had behaved was discriminatory and in breach of the Equality Act. --- “Although our fight for a home was over, I couldn’t stop thinking about the thousands of other families on benefits, missing out on decent homes because of discrimination. I knew I had to do more. It was about taking a stand – making sure they didn’t treat other families the way they treated us.”

Charlotte moved to the UK from Trinidad and Tobago over 20 years ago and was living in temporary accommodation when X first supported her. X helped her to find a new home and apply for funding to start a business. She now owns a successful food business serving Caribbean vegan cuisine. “First time entering X, I’ve felt at ease. They were very friendly. I think the one thing I remember feeling is not feeling like I’m being ‘put down’. My first day at X was helpful. I’m trying to find the right words because “helpful” is not enough as it was so much more than help. There was no judging. It was just a feeling of, “You’re a human being going through a situation and we’re here to help you,” and that was it. They didn’t care what the situation – it didn’t feel like they cared what the situation was or whatever, it was just, you’re in a moment and you’re having a moment. This is not you. At least I felt that they understood that this wasn’t me, and I just needed some help to come out of this situation that I was forced into. They helped me with paperwork and helped me to get out of that situation. They provided a deposit for my new home, and it just took a weight off my shoulders.”