Volunteer Digital Storytelling & Heritage Co-Creation Programme - Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery

An award-winning people’s museum, ran by volunteers, where fascinating stories of the past are told about Alnwick and District.

The brief

We were commissioned to support the Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery in engaging young people and volunteers to document and celebrate the heritage of Alnwick. The project set out to equip participants with the practical skills and confidence to tell meaningful stories through filmmaking and interviewing. The brief aimed to create an authentic record of the town’s past, present, and future - connecting generation and amplifying youth voice in heritage spaces. Through hands-on digital storytelling training, the programme also sought to build pathways into volunteering, community engagement, and future employment for the participating young people.

The process

Working closely with the Bailiffgate team, we shaped a structured, supportive programme that took participants from initial inspiration through to confident content creation. The training began with two engaging online sessions where we introduced the heritage context, explored ethical storytelling, and established the foundations of filmmaking - from narrative development to technical setup. Following this was an immersive in-person filming day where participants put their learning into practice with the support of an experienced producer and camera operator.

Footage captured was then passed on to our professional editors to create a collection of four films showcasing different elements of the Museum as planned by the participants. In the final phase, we supported participants through post-production with a review session, troubleshooting, and feedback, ensuring each piece of content moved confidently toward completion.

The Results

The project culminated in a collection of co-created films consisting of interviews, b-roll and behind-the-scenes content. Participants developed a strong foundation in digital storytelling - gaining technical filming skills and end-to-end production planning experience.

The content produced will feed into Bailiffgate’s funding bids, enrich the museum’s archive, and provide an authentic voice within local heritage documentation. Beyond the immediate outputs, the project laid long-term pathways for ongoing involvement, from social media content creation to volunteering roles. Most importantly, it empowered participants to take ownership of their local history - capturing the spirit of the museum with honesty, creativity, and pride.

We’ve created some incredible short films that we’ll go on to edit and upload to our social media and website. It’s been a great day, we’ve learned lots, and we’ve had a really good time.