Rich Sylvester

I am a storyteller/facilitator. I work with schools and communities in and outdoors - i call my work "JIGSAW" - Journey Into Green Space And Waterways

Pieces of the J.I.G.S.A.W.
A. Story Walks
“Journey through Time” history walks in a variety of London sites.
These walks can be combined with sessions for your group to create their own trails and tours. Workshops and story-telling or making sessions will draw on and extend the groups perceptions and knowledge of local features and history to celebrate and explore an area.

B. Storytelling and Story-making
For School groups or Community events. These story-sessions can be tailored to support site-interpretation. Recent projects have generated creative outputs (eg artwork for signage or mosaics). Links –as required- to curriculum topics including History, Literacy, PHSE, Local Studies and Citizenship.

C. Training
For pupils, staff or volunteers; structured and supportive sessions offering mixed ability groups a range of techniques for guiding walks and storytelling
Recent Work

v Storytelling: Writing Stimulus day at Fountains Abbey for National Trust
“Catered cleverly for a wide age gap…children & staff commented how much they enjoyed this element” T. Broad Western Primary School, Harrogate

v History: Victorian canal interpretation with schools. London Canal Museum
“I really enjoyed it when you sang the song about living on the canal” Isla. Yr 6 New End School

v Greenspace: “SpadeWorks!” tree planting event with Crawley schools
“Your assembly was a superb introduction to the day and to the project” B. Thomas, Headteacher,

v Training: Storytelling workshop for staff and volunteers at Sutton Ecology Centre
“enjoyable and informative…a great day !” “many great ideas to deliver a story interactively.” Sutton Library & Ecology Centre staff

Professional
Registered Wildlife Watch leader. Forest Schools leader,
Member of Equity , Assoc. for Heritage Interpretation, Society for Storytelling. Registered self-employed.

Health & Safety
Enhanced CRB check, Child Protection Awareness Training (Suffolk SAFE). First Aid (Outdoor) Certificate.

Insurance
£5m Public Liability Insurance.

Resources provided	Stories to tell
Resources required	Space for participants to to move and sit Space and environment to support listening
Accreditation	MA Public History -Ruskin College -2008 OCN Level 3 Forest School Practitioner Award- 2007 OCN Level 3 Internal Moderator Award-2009 Training in Child Protection and Awareness -Suffolk SAFE - 2002 Storytelling as a tool for environmental education - ETN training -Feb 2002
Fees	2010-11 Fees Schools Storytelling -negotiable - average fee is £300 full day, or £200 half day. For Story Walks, Research or Workshops - Probably best to discuss your needs & budget with me - like all artists I work for both love of what I do and for money. Contact me for more information, and to discuss projects
Insurance	This artist is insured.
CRB Disclosure	I have had an Enhanced Disclosure check within the last three years and can provide evidence of this request. CRB checks DO NOT relieve you from your child protection responsibilities and duty of care towards children and young people. A criminal record shown on a disclosure does not prevent an artist appearing in the Directory, unless it is a schedule One offence under the Children and Young Person’s Act 1933. It is your responsibility to make adequate checks before employing LONSAS Associates and to implement a sufficient child protection policy. Click here for further information.

Storytelling doesnt quite fit into this box !
* Lot of storytelling work with schools and Parks and local green spaces, eg tree days, open days, frog days, etc
* Storytelling in parks - Royal Parks Summer programme 2009
* Storytelling CPD for teaching assistants Tower Hamlets (June 2009)
* Story-walks and workshop at Redbridge Literary festival May 2009
* Storywalks: Walk London, Greenwich Community Participation -2009
* Storytelling skills workshops- Old Royal Naval College (Feb 09)
* Storytelling for Botanical Gardens Intl. (Kew Gardens Oct 08)
* Storytelling for Community Woodland groups -Green Light (Nov 06)
* Presentation to Association for Heritage Interpretation (July 06)

Project 1

Peninsula Stories 2005-8 (ongoing)- working with three local schools (KS2 & 3 ) and elders from community to create a local history map in East Greenwich ( Local Heritage Lottery funded) . Including story-walks, oral history work, intergenerational interviews and unquantifiable liaison work to keep it all afloat.

Project 2

Virginia Stories- 2007 (Greenwich Storytelling Co with Old Royal Naval College supported by Greenwich Speech and Language Therapists) working with community / adult group and the local Deaf Youth Club towards group performance of stories around the English settlement of Virginia in 1607. Including First Nations/Native American and African stories. 8 workshops leading to a storytelling perfomance with drumming and dance at the Old Royal Naval College (Sun 22 April 2007)

Groundwork Eco-schools project manager

JIGSAW tackled the brief with enthusiasm, well thought out and varied sessions and ability to capture the children imaginations with subject matter that was inspiring and interesting to adults as well as children.
The experienced hand of an adept practitioner shone through both in the planning process and in the all round delivery of the sessions.
The project was fully researched and the visual images and props used were well chosen. The old maps proved an invaluable resource in linking what used to exist to the present day.
The storytelling aspect captured the children and fired up their imaginations.
To sum up, an innovative and successful project which all local schools should have the pleasureof experiencing

30 March 2007

British Waterways Education manager

Rich is willing to work with wide variety of ages , very adaptable in formal and informal settings eg his work for us at London Canal Museum with school groups and also with families on the community boats with families.

30 March 2007