Rona Barbour, Storyteller.

Rona is a member and is on the Board of Directors for the Society for Storytelling, a National Storytelling Organisation.

Rona was born in Glasgow, as one of 8 children to blind parents Lizzie and Thomas.

"The daily ritual was for one or other of us to be sitting on my father's knee with the others on the floor around him, and him telling us his wonderful stories. My father had the gift as did his father and it seem as if me and my youngest brother Michael got it too. I'm so grateful for this."

For the last 10 years, Rona has used her special talent as a Storyteller in her work as an Emotional Therapist, working in schools all over the UK and abroad but mainly in her chosen arena of PRU s (Pupil Referral Units) where she frequently comes across older children who have been permanently excluded from school, (she believes largely as a result of not being able to communicate properly).

"We learn so much from stories as children and these young people are testament to what happens when we don't get to hear stories as children, either at home, or in school".

Crucially, Rona's extensive research of storytelling in schools shows that relatively simple programs could tackle these problems quickly and effectively. It's her knowledge and experience of the strength of the effects of stories on these youngsters that gives Rona the passionate perspective from which she shares her special gift. Teachers and other Therapists come to her because she shows them how to get through to people quickly. Rona is also a successful public speaker of many years standing and for the last 16 years, was Host and Master of Ceremonies at the famous Manchester United Football Club on match days.

Rona tells us;

"I've met all sorts of so called famous people there, including our distinguished Prime Minister (who was then Chancellor) Gordon Brown with whom I had a very lengthy chat about Storytelling or rather the lack of it. He was very interested in what I had to say on the subject and I have an assurance from him that when he gets into Number 10, he will make it a priority to have it re-introduced into schools. However, I don't think I'll wait that long and am currently knocking on doors... We must make people understand the power of and the need for Storytelling to our children".

She may get the opportunity to do so earlier than anticipated as she has been organising the launch of The Society for Storytelling's new website on the 13th March 2008 at The House of Commons and has invited The Prime Minister as a guest.

Rona works with all ages and enjoys them all but her preference is children aged 6-16 and all adults.

Rona will do a full day in a school, stories can last anything from 3-5 minutes to 1 hour.

Rona has a vast experience of all kinds of Workshops. Storytelling for beginner's right through to a master class in storytelling.

Rona will travel anywhere usually by car but further journeys by train.

Rona has worked in many other diverse situations including for the WWF doing Story Walks in Wildlife Parks and has been asked to use her vast experience to judge Storytelling and Story writing Competitions including for the BBC's National Storytelling Week Competition.

Rona writes most of the stories she tells and her Sensitive Stories for Sensitive Children are very popular with the younger children and her adventures of Murgatroyd Muldoon stories are popular with KS2 and 3.

Storytelling workshop testimonials:

"Thank-you so much for spending the morning with us. I have had hugely positive feedback from both pupils and staff. I thought that the stories were ideally suited to the different groups and your delivery was superb! As you know many of our pupils struggle to listen or sit still for long because of ADHD or similar difficulties yet they were completely engaged in the stories and were able to sit for nearly an hour! We will make a feature of the event on our virtual learning site as well as in our school newsletter. We have close links with other schools in Crewe and have passed on your details to some of them with a strong recommendation. Fabulous value! Thanks again."

Clare

"Excellent practical advice - many thanks."

R. Dimbleby, Brighouse

"An excellent workshop with lots of very useful information, pity it couldn't have been longer."

C. King, Nuneaton

"Very inspiring, and I loved the Chutzpah... I was also impressed by the obvious amount of preparation that had gone into this workshop and it showed!"

W. King, Birmingham

"Better than expected, really practical, thank you".

J. Hughes, Hepworth

"Good workshop activity, going away with a couple of good ideas and a more positive view forward...Everybody at the workshop seemed to be inspired."

A. Woollard, Delabole Cornwall

"Great workshop, good ideas about establishing contacts and being more assertive."

N. Watkins, Burnopfield

"I went along to the workshop to see if I could learn something new and build on what I already had. I did, and now I know I can reach the targets I have set myself...Excellent".

L. Rushworth, London