Held in common
Tell us your story!
The Network has partnered with local storyteller Polly Tisdall and is seeking residents' stories for a new podcast celebrating Bristol’s communities during COVID-19.
The podcast is called Held in Common and seeks to celebrate all that Bristol’s different communities have in common at this time. We’re looking for short (20 to 90 second) audio clips from local residents sharing something unexpectedly positive that they’ve discovered during the virus outbreak.
Each fortnight we’ll be asking you to send us an audio clip of a positive ‘silver lining’ moment which fits our next theme.
Episodes 1, 2 & 3: The Unexpected Good, Cooking Up A Storm and Going Slow are now available to listen to here:
You can also listen on Apple Podcasts and on Spotify.
The theme for Episode 4 is Imagining Change: a special episode for Bristol Refugee Festival, celebrating stories from Bristol’s refugee residents and their host communities as we imagine a new world beyond coronavirus.
We’re looking for contributions for this next episode now!
What sort of stories are you looking for?
For Episode 4 we're interested to hear stories from Bristol's refugee residents and their host communities celebrating how people are working together and how the outbreak is allowing us to imagine a better future . Whether you've recently made Bristol your home or have lived here for a long time, we'd like to hear about how you've been connecting with others and how the pandemic is helping you to imagine positive change for the city. Has the lockdown got you thinking differently about the city's future? Are you imagining a city centre with less traffic? Different housing and rental contracts? More outdoor learning for children? How do you think the virus could help us to build a better Bristol?
Furthermore...
If you know a traditional story or folktale from your community that you'd like to tell please contact Polly. You are welcome to tell your traditional story in whichever language is most comfortable for you and we will aim to feature it in the podcast, alongside a translation if necessary.
If you haven’t got a story that fits this week’s theme, don’t worry! There are plenty of different themes to come!
How do i take part?
'The virus outbreak has allowed me to imagine a better Bristol where....'
It would be great to hear some background in your story about what you've been doing during the pandemic and why that has got you imagining this new future!
Please submit your story for Episode 4 by 12 noon on Friday 5th June.
If you’re not sure whether you’ve got a story to tell, or you’re not sure how to tell it, take a look at our Story Finding & Telling Resources here:
https://www.bartonhillsettlement.org.uk/held-in-common-podcast-2/
You are welcome to submit more than one story if you want to!
How Do I Record My Story?
To record your story, you will need a smartphone and WhatsApp. Stories will be audio only.
If you don’t have a smartphone or WhatsApp you can call Network Coordinator, Polly, on 07545 557001 or email pollyt@thenetworkbristol.org.uk to discuss alternative options.
- Using WhatsApp, add Polly as a contact on 07545 557001.
- Find a quiet place indoors with as little background noise as possible.
- Press the microphone symbol to start recording your voice note. Keep the microphone symbol pressed down while you record - or, for a longer voice note, slide the microphone symbol up to keep the microphone ‘locked’ on.
- Before you begin your story, please clearly state your full name and the area of Bristol you live in. For example: ‘Polly Tisdall, Easton Ward.’ (If you would like to submit without your name and area, you can choose to do so)
- After a pause, start with the recommended statement above and complete it with your story. Remember your story doesn’t need to be long or complicated. It might just be one moment that you are describing. Ideally clips will be between 20-90 seconds long.
- When you’ve finished, stop pressing the microphone symbol or press the ‘send’ icon and your voice note will be sent!
- Listen out for your story on the podcast in the coming weeks!
Please note: we will try to use everybody’s contributions wherever possible but on occasion may have to make an exception if the sound quality is too poor or if we are overwhelmed by contributions!
We are currently exploring ways to invite contributions in languages other than English. If you speak a second language and would like to help us feature contributions from non-English speakers in your community please contact Polly.
How will my story be shared?
Your story will be shared on the podcast, which will be advertised on The Network website and social media and on Polly’s website and social media. We hope to also make the podcast available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Stories from the podcast may also be featured on Bristol Community Radio. If you would like full details of how your story will be shared, stored or edited, or would like to withdraw your story, please click here.
