Prior to the Covid pandemic, Resolve’s managing director, Luke Roberts ran regular workshops for young people living in Secure Children’s Homes with the aim of equipping them with skills to resolve situations and manage and maintain relationships in conflict.
Live illustrated by Scriberia scribes, the success of these sessions rested on Luke’s ability to create an atmosphere in which participants felt free to share their thoughts and feelings.
The visuals helped uncover their stories, build relationships, and amplify their voices. So, when the pandemic hit and restrictions on in-person events came into force, Luke, was understandably concerned that something would be lost in the move online.
“Holding our workshops online, during a pandemic, when we weren’t able to be on-site was a real concern,” he explains. "I was worried."
But, our live events team assured Luke that his workshops could be just as effective and engaging in a virtual setting, with scribes capturing the content remotely, sharing their visuals in real-time, via live video.
“The moment our stakeholders started to see their ideas drawn, the engagement level just went through the roof."
Luke’s fears were put quickly to rest, as workshop participants signed in online, and enthusiastically contributed to discussions focused on their current challenges and the pursuit of a more peaceful future.
“From the very first online session, it was clear that the stakeholders absolutely loved seeing their words turned into pictures, and the same for the staff as well. The artwork was so good, they didn’t believe the scribe was actually drawing it in real-time; they thought we’d had it drawn up in advance!
“The quality of the conversations that came out of the workshops were enhanced by the scribing,” he says. “The moment our stakeholders started to see their ideas drawn, the engagement level just went through the roof."
Luke adds: “It always feels like teamwork when I work with Scriberia. The creative aspect is one part of it, but also feels like I have teammates who care about every aspect of the workshop as much as I do. It displays the professionalism of Scriberia, which is why I really love working with them.”
"These visuals have captured the voices and aspirations of these young people and given them a new space in which to express themselves."
The digitally scribed artwork from these workshops has enabled the young participants to tell their own stories, be heard and understood.
Luke explains: “Scribing sparked their enthusiasm in a different way. It's such an empowering experience for them, and a great way for us to hear and share their stories. Senior leaders have looked at the visual and been absolutely amazed at what has been discovered in those sessions.
"It really feels like these visuals have changed existing perceptions, and made it possible for new relationships to grow. It has captured the voices and aspirations of these young people over time and given them a new space in which to express themselves."
So much has been put on hold because of the pandemic, but it has been our privilege to work with Luke and his team throughout, so that they can continue their valuable work with vulnerable young people.
