Eight creative story-development sessions have helped shape six interconnected fictional stories inspired by conversations about life in rural communities.
The sessions formed the first phase of GLOW – Giving Light to Our Wellbeing, Verbal’s rural arts and emotional wellbeing programme. Members of a community lunch club in Greysteel shared memories, observations and experiences through open group conversation.
These conversations provided the creative starting point for a story collection exploring friendship, ageing, resilience and the importance of having somewhere to belong.
Phase One at a glance
From conversation to fiction
8
creative story-development sessions
6
interconnected fictional stories created
One shared setting
a fictional lunch club connecting the stories and characters
A participant-led process
Conversations shaped what came next
Each session began with a broad theme, while participants decided where the conversation went. Ideas and recurring subjects from one week informed the development of the stories and the conversations that followed.
Protecting individual identities
Shared experiences became fiction
The stories are not biographies and no character represents one individual. Experiences and ideas were blended into fictional characters and situations, allowing common themes to be explored without identifying participants.
Themes explored
Stories about continuing to live meaningful lives as circumstances change
Friendship and belonging
Volunteering and purpose
Independence and support
Family and caring
Transport and accessibility
Humour and resilience
Community through story
Individual memories, shared points of connection
As the sessions progressed, conversations connected across different weeks. Participants returned to earlier subjects, responded to one another’s memories and identified experiences that resonated across the group.
The six resulting stories reflect lives that intersect through shared places and relationships. Alongside experiences of change and challenge, the collection gives space to friendship, contribution, humour, care and community traditions.
What happens next
The stories will support the next stages of GLOW
The collection developed during Phase One will provide creative material for later GLOW activity. Stories will be used to encourage further conversation around belonging, resilience and wellbeing as the programme continues working with rural communities.
Discover GLOW
Stories, connection and wellbeing in rural communities
Learn more about the programme, its four phases and the communities involved.
Programme funding
GLOW is funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland through the Rural Engagement Arts Programme 2025/26, with support from National Lottery funding.