Storytelling for Togetherness: A collaborative social media campaign, using short films created by grassroots organisations
Why do we need Storytelling for Togetherness?
In these divided and unjust times, we are experiencing increased feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. This of course has a detrimental effect on our health and wellbeing. Feeling lonely and disempowered can be more susceptible to divisive narratives, and getting stuck in old habits, thus trapping us in a negative spiral. In other words, hopelessness and loneliness immobilise us.
How can we disrupt this cycle? By modelling connection and sharing stories of hope, through film.
We are on a mission to help grassroots organisations, community groups and local residents to capture their stories of everyday connection, love and co-existence - stories which challenge this narrative and therefore mobilise people to be more active, positive and connected in their communities.
What are we doing?
We want to support our network of grassroots organisations in their roles fostering connection and peace in their communities. We see potential to leverage their everyday stories to inspire connection and create a counter narrative to hopelessness and despair, whilst at the same time supporting them to develop their capacity in an important skill: film-making. At the same time, we can be building supportive relationships between them, other organisations and their local statutory sector. We have a tried-and-tested model for (see Film-Making For Togetherness).
With funding from The National Lottery, we have brought grassroots organisations together in four areas in the North of England for a series of film-making workshops. Over the next couple of months, we’re supporting them (1-to-1) to create their own films. We plan to share the films through a joint social media campaign: all the participating organisations will come together to collaboratively post and share their films, supported by regional and national communications partners too.
What are the aims?
Intersectional solidarity in areas of high risk of far right extremism: We will build supportive and trusting relationships across communities that are being positioned against one another by divisive narratives - through the shared experience of learning film-making and partnering on joint social media campaigns.
A shift in perspectives and behaviours among a large cross section of social media users: We will foster hope and inspire people to take action in their local communities - by working together to share positive stories of everyday togetherness far and wide.
Improved mental and physical health among a large cross section of social media users: By adopting new behaviours inspired by the films, people will feel more connected to others - which will have a positive effect on their health and wellbeing.
Of course, we’ll also be building grassroots capacity in the process.
When will all this take place?
December 2025: film-making workshops in Burnley, Birkenhead, Middlesbrough and Rochdale
We have delivered film making workshops to over 60 grassroots organisations and community leaders who support communities that are being positioned against one another by divisive narratives.
The workshops also incorporated some elements of our Building Connections Training and have built shared understanding, hope and purpose among the participants.
There are some amazing films in the making, capturing stories of hope, connection and ‘choosing love’, e.g. by celebrating community heroes, showing the Steps to Togetherness in action, explaining what grassroots organisations do and the impact they have, or celebrating neighbourliness, tolerance and unity.
December 2025 and January 2026: film making support and and communications partner mobilisation
Provide one-to-one hands on support to grassroots organisations to plan, shoot and edit their films.
Mobilise local, regional and national communications partners who can help to amplify relevant films in the social media campaign.
February and March 2026: social media campaign
Share the films on Instagram as collaborative posts, amplified by all the organisations and individuals that have created films, and a host of local, regional and national supporters (such as yourselves!).
How can you help?
Our voices are louder and travel further if we work together. We need your support to amplify this national, grassroots social media campaign and ensure the films get seen by as many people as possible.
If you have a social media account, please follow us and like and share the films when we start posting in February and March 2026.
We are also looking for national and high profile organisations to be communications partners that can collaborate with us on films that align with their values (or even having a greater involvement - we sincerely believe in partnership working and want impact, not glory or control!). If you know of any organisations or people we should be connecting with, please let us know!
About the project
This initiative is being delivered thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund and brings together two existing strands of our work, Nurturing Grassroots and Steps to Togetherness:
Nurturing Grassroots is a longstanding capacity building programme through which we provide free support to grassroots organisations that are supporting vulnerable communities facing hardship, inequality and exclusion.
Steps to Togetherness is a national, grassroots movement all about building connections within and between communities in order to create the conditions for systems change, which is centred around a practical resource called 32 Steps to Togetherness.
We delivered a similar initiative in Norfolk earlier in 2025, find out more about ‘Togetherness in Norfolk’ here.
Want to bring Storytelling for Togetherness to your area?
Give us an email if you’re interested in running workshops and a joint social media campaign in your area: viki@civilsocietyconsulting.co.uk
