Our objectives
- PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN (Educational Beneficiaries) We support children's emotional intelligence and learning through professionally filmed stories that teach presence first. In an age of declining attention and rising anxiety, our research-validated methodology (Sheffield Hallam University) strengthens resilience, literacy, and emotional presence. Unlike curriculum supplements, story becomes the foundation for meaningful education—capturing attention and building the capacity to learn.
- PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS & STORYTELLERS We create sustainable career infrastructure for storytellers through diversified income streams: performance fees, filming opportunities, teaching workshops, and training delivery. In a precarious arts economy, we prove storytelling can be a viable profession beyond one-off bookings, supporting 50+ artists annually.
- LOCAL COMMUNITIES (Yorkshire Dales) We preserve heritage and strengthen community cohesion through oral history projects, the Listening Gallery, Writers Group, and year-round cultural programming. We give 150+ community members meaningful roles—our volunteer hours grew 7.7× in one year because people hunger for purposeful engagement that connects generations and preserves local identity.
- GLOBAL AUDIENCES We connect isolated individuals across 44 countries through hybrid events from unusual places. Post-pandemic, 62% specifically requested more hybrid programming—proving people need authentic cultural connection beyond algorithms and feeds.
- Why our help matters: The core crisis is distraction, driving declining emotional presence. Story—humanity's oldest technology—is the antidote. We're not delivering entertainment; we're building essential infrastructure for connection, emotional intelligence, and cultural preservation in the Age of Anxiety. Where others offer content, we offer humanity.
Our Values:
- Be open and inclusive
- Encourage curiosity
- Be the best you can be
- Be mindful
- Think creatively
Our activities
Settle Stories builds storytelling infrastructure that educates, empowers, and endures through three integrated pillars:
EDUCATE (Reach) We transform learning through professional storytelling. Our Stories for Schools platform delivers 250+ filmed stories with curriculum-aligned resources to UK primary schools, teaching emotional intelligence and presence. Sheffield Hallam University research validates our approach strengthens resilience and literacy. By 2028, we'll reach 60,000 children cumulatively.
EMPOWER (Place & People) We establish Settle, Yorkshire, as a globally recognised storytelling capital. Through our Storyversity platform and professional training, we develop storytellers across contexts—teachers facilitating story-based learning, artists performing professionally, community members preserving heritage. We run the Yorkshire Festival of Story, maintain the Listening Gallery exhibition space, support our Settle Writers Group, and preserve local oral histories. Our volunteer base grew sevenfold in one year through meaningful community engagement.
ENDURE (Sustainability) We connect global audiences through world-class hybrid events from unusual locations—broadcasting from caves, heritage sites, and cultural landmarks to 44 countries across 6 continents. These aren't just performances; they're cultural documentation that archives place and story for future generations.
Our approach combines:
- Professional storytelling content creation and filming
- Educational programme delivery in schools
- Artist training and professional development
- Community heritage preservation projects
- Live and hybrid event production
- Digital platform management
Every activity serves our mission: proving that every voice, empowered by story, builds our shared future.
