Creative Life Story Training for Arts Practitioners, Community Workers, Educators & Creative Facilitators

(5-Day, In-Person Training)

Over five days this experiential training provides an in-depth exploration of the principles, techniques, and practical applications of working alongside people and their life stories across different art forms and settings.

The training will be facilitated by Karin Diamond, Artistic Director of Re-Live, and Alison O’Connor, Co-Founder of Re-Live, a therapist and Clinical Supervisor. Both co-authored Creating Life Story Theatre with Clark Baim, a psychodrama psychotherapist, who will join us for one day to introduce the Drama Spiral model.

Dates: Monday 13th – Friday 17th October 2025  (10.00 AM – 4.30 PM, Mon-Thurs), (10.00 AM – 3.00 PM, Friday)

Venue: Chapter Arts Centre, Market Rd, Cardiff, CF5 1QE, Cardiff (fully accessible space with ground floor facilities).

Cost: £500 Early Bird (until 20th July 2025) | £650 thereafter

Participants arrange their own lunch and accommodation.

What You’ll Experience on the 5-Day Life Story Training

  • Be invited to share and explore aspects of your own story within the group, and experience being in role as a participant

  • Reflect on the experience of being a participant, connecting these insights to the core values and guiding principles of life story work

  • Explore key ethical considerations, including choice, consent, safeguarding, confidentiality, and what it means to hold complex stories with care

  • Develop and deepen life story facilitation skills, including active listening, non-verbal communication, and navigating group dynamics

  • Explore the Drama Spiral — a model designed to support safe and ethical choices when working alongside people and their stories

  • Discover how life story work can be adapted across art forms, health and social care, education, and research settings — including co-production and story-led evaluation, for example, the Most Significant Change approach

  • Opportunity to share and explore emerging project ideas, with space for support, reflection, and practical guidance

  • Receive 28 hours of CPD and a certificate upon completion

A Supportive, Reflective Group Setting

You’ll be invited to share aspects of your own story within the group and to listen as others do the same. This shared experience is at the heart of the training, and we’ll support one another with care and sensitivity throughout. To ensure everyone has the space to fully participate, the group size is kept to a maximum of 10 participants.

If you’re interested in the training, we’d love to hear from you. Please send an email outlining your interest and any relevant experience to: karin@re-live.org.uk

What Previous Participants Have Said:

"A transformative five days. I wasn’t just learning life story techniques - I was experiencing the depth, trust, and impact of the work firsthand. I now feel ready to integrate this into my creative practice in a meaningful way."

"The balance between practical exercises, theory, and self-reflection was perfect”

"This was an incredibly immersive experience - beautiful, emotional, and deeply insightful. It made me reflect on how we listen, how we hold space, and the responsibility that comes with working alongside people and their stories."

"The training helped me slow down and truly understand the courage it takes to share a life story. I left feeling more prepared and with a greater sense of purpose in my work."

"This course shifted my perspective - not just on storytelling, but on human connection. I now see how life story work can create bridges between people, build understanding, and give space for voices that need to be heard."