Walk with Story
A Peer Programme for Creative Expression and Wellbeing
Walking with Story is a community-led initiative developed by Zya Community in collaboration with experienced arts facilitators, delivered to local community groups.
This peer-to-peer programme brings people together to explore creative expression as a pathway to creating personal connection and meaning within their lived and living experience, and supporting overall improved mental health and wellbeing.
Through a series of facilitated workshops, participants are supported in exploring creative ways to share their lived and living experiences in a way that feels safe, meaningful, and self-defined. The programme culminates in a shared storytelling outcome shaped by the group.
About the Programme
Walking with Story offers a series of creative expression workshops, designed to nurture and support participants through their storytelling process. The sessions are:
Trauma-informed – prioritising personal safety and emotional regulation, trust, and choice.
Person-led – allowing participants to guide their own stories and level of engagement.
Holistic – recognising the connection between creativity, supporting mental health and wellbeing, and facilitating community relations.
Participants are gently guided through a range of creative activities that encourage storytelling, self-expression, and meaningful connection with others. No prior creative experience is needed, just an openness to explore and share in a safe and supportive space.
The Final Sharing
The programme concludes with a flexible and participant-led sharing. This may take the form of:
A small performance
A storytelling circle
A creative showcase
Another format chosen by the group
Our Aims
At its heart, Walking with Story seeks to:
Facilitate Nurturing Connection
Bring people together to share lived and living experiences and build supportive peer relationships.
Encourage Creative Expression
Provide an inclusive and inspiring selection of innovative creative activities for storytelling and artistic exploration.
Support Mental Health and Wellbeing
Use a harm reduction model to provide creative care in a trauma-informed, peer-supported setting.
Reconnect People with Purpose
Support participants in reconnecting with themselves in a way that reduces harmful experiences of trauma-related distress.
We are currently working in partnership with Action Group Edinburgh to deliver the Walk with Story programme. If you are interested in exploring opportunities for delivery within your community, get in touch with our project lead, Nikki Kilburn, via her email: Nikki.kilburn@zya.community