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Stories that bring us together.
We scroll through endless stories every day. But how often do we get to write stories together?
Co-literate Cafés are storytelling evening clubs for children and the adults in their lives. A space to slow down, have fun, get curious, and imagine together.
Because the true value is the time you spend creating together.
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Time to sit next to each other and be curious.
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Time to hear something you didn't know about your child or grandchild.
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Time for your child to see you as someone who can imagine and play too.
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Time to laugh, disagree, make things up, and surprise each other.
There is no right answer. No need to be a “good writer”. Sometimes the best stories begin with a simple question, a funny memory, a wild idea, or something that makes everyone see the world differently.
Imagine. Have fun.
And make something real.
Create stories alongside other families. We share ideas, discover different perspectives, and find inspiration in one another.
Every family gets their own story in print.
At the end, every family’s story becomes part of a shared anthology. A real, beautifully printed book that everyone gets to take home. Something you made together.
You leave with something you can hold, share with other people in your life, and read together again and again.
And hopefully, when you open that book years from now, you'll remember more than the story.
You'll remember sitting together to explore and listen.
The silly idea that somehow became the main character.
The memory you hadn't heard before.
The moment your child or grandchild came up with something even better than your idea.
The feeling of we made this.
Join 6 weekly
co-writing sessions.
Sign up for our professionally facilitated 6-week creative storytelling journey, designed for children, young people, and the adults in their lives.
Over six sessions, we meet to play, talk, imagine, create, and gradually build a story together.
The weekly activities draw on storytelling, participatory arts, creative writing, visual thinking, collaborative learning, and nonformal education. You might draw, play story games, interview each other, invent characters, act things out, share memories, or go on a little story walk.
Bit by bit, all those ideas become your family’s own story.
Week 1
We start with what you already have and see where it wants to take us.
Bring a memory, an object, a family tradition, or a curious “what if…?” and turn it into story ideas. Then we start imagining the people, places, and possibilities around it.
We explore through storytelling games · mystery objects · memory prompts · picture cards · “what if?” questions · character games · drawing
You leave this session with: a story idea you are excited to explore, plus the first characters and places.
Week 2
Now we figure out what happens.
Together, you begin putting your ideas into a story. Simply finding a direction.
We explore through story cards · prompting stones · story mountains · beginning/middle/end · sequencing games · “yes, and…” improvisation
You leave this session with a shared story plan and lots of possibilities to play with.
Week 3
Before we turn to writing, we tell the story. The group takes turns telling, listening, questioning, and adding to their stories.
We explore through paired interviews · freeze frames · retelling from different perspectives · shared writing · scribing
You leave with the first version of your story. At this point, it feels rough, alive, and full of your family’s shared ideas.
Week 4
Now we shape the story into something that feels like yours. We read it aloud, notice what works, decide what is missing, and choose the moments you want to keep.
We explore voices through read-alouds · collaborative storytelling · character voices · choosing favourite moments · family decision-making
You leave with a complete story in your family’s own voice.
Week 5
Now we make the story visible. You create visual details that bring your story world to life. You can draw, photograph, arrange, design, or experiment. There is no single “right” way to illustrate.
We will explore illustration · collage · photography · character portraits · visual storytelling
You leave with fun visual elements and final details for your family’s story.
Week 6
This is the moment we look back at where you started, put the final pieces together, and close the creative process with the group. You have time to recognise what you created together - not just the finished story, but the process of listening, imagining, negotiating, and storymaking together.
We finalise with a final read-through · choosing the title · final creative decisions · reflecting on the process · sharing favourite moments · celebrating each other’s contributions
Closing celebration
Your story finally becomes real. We bring the families’ stories together into the shared anthology and invite you to celebrate what everyone has created.
After the collaborative process has closed, families are invited back for a collective vernissage - a public exhibition of your stories and creative work.
We will close and celebrate through family-to-family sharing · read-alouds · exhibition of illustrations · book reveal · signing copies
You leave with a copy of the shared anthology, including the story that your family made together.
Short Q&A
How can my family take part? There is more than one way to take part. You can contribute by talking, listening, remembering, asking questions, moving, drawing, imagining, or writing. The process is designed so that different ages, personalities, and confidence levels can find a way in.
Who guides the sessions? A professional facilitator guides the journey from the first spark to the finished book, providing the structure, prompts, and gentle guidance that keep the story moving. We help you make decisions, include different voices, and get unstuck - without taking the ownership of the story away from you.