Using storytelling for change in health, care and well-being services - DEEP

What is the project?

Developing Evidence Enriched Practice (DEEP) is working with partners to build a national research community of academics, policy makers and practitioners around storytelling.

Thanks to recent funding from a Wales Innovation Network (WIN) grant, DEEP will be working with Wrexham University and other Welsh universities to plan a free in-person event in Wrexham to support this community.

It’ll offer networking and research development opportunities around the role of storytelling in social care, health, and community development.

Why is it being carried out?

A central feature of DEEP is the use of story and dialogue-based methods in research, learning and development.

Working with Social Care Wales, DEEP is building a more strategic approach to storytelling methods, including creating storytelling networks.

The storytelling network involves researchers from across the UK, practitioners, people with lived experience and organisational managers and policy makers in Wales. The network has already helped support and develop thinking around research, policy and practice development.

Over the past two years, DEEP and Social Care Wales have been exploring storytelling methods to support well-being, evaluation and learning.

A two-day online event was first held in September 2022, where over 100 people registered to attend, followed by two successful in-person events in 2023 and early 2024.

Where and when is the work taking place?

The event will take place in Wrexham and further information will be published soon.

In the meantime, please visit our DEEP page to learn more about the work of storytelling in social care, health and communities.

Who’s involved?

The event is being hosted by Wrexham University and funded by a WIN grant.

Key partners in developing and delivering the project include Swansea University, Cardiff University, University of South Wales, Wrexham University, University of Durham, Mencap Cymru, Pembrokeshire Council, and Neath Port Talbot Council.