Explore Your Story. Find Your Voice.
Voices of Hope is offering a series of free lived experience storytelling workshops for young people aged 16-25.
These workshops are designed to support rangatahi to explore and share their lived experiences in ways that feel safe, empowering, and authentic. Through a combination of storytelling skills and creative expression, participants will learn how stories can foster connection, hope, self-advocacy, and positive change.
Whether you're interested in writing, art, poetry, or simply curious about new ways to express yourself, these workshops provide a supportive environment to explore your story at your own pace.
Spaces are intentionally limited to create a supportive and meaningful experience for all participants.
Express your interest below for either the July or August dates. Expressions of Interest for further dates will be released at a later stage.
About our workshops
How These Workshops Were Created
In 2025, Voices of Hope partnered with a group of rangatahi and the lived experience advocacy organisation Changing Minds to co-design a series of storytelling workshops for young people.
Together, we explored what safe, empowering, and meaningful storytelling looks like for rangatahi with lived experience. Young people helped shape the workshop content, approach, and guiding principles to ensure the experience reflects their needs, aspirations, and perspectives.
The result is a series of workshops designed to support young people to explore their stories safely, discover different forms of creative expression, and build confidence in sharing their experiences in ways that feel authentic and empowering.
These workshops are grounded in the belief that lived experience has value, that stories can create connection and hope, and that every young person should have choice over how, when, and whether they share their story.
What to expect
Each workshop combines lived experience storytelling, guided reflection, and creative exploration in a supportive small-group environment.
Throughout the day you'll take part in guided conversations, individual reflection, creative activities, and optional opportunities to share with others.
During the day, participants will:
- Explore the stories and experiences that have shaped them
- Learn the foundations of safe and empowering storytelling
- Reflect on their values, motivations, and the impact they hope to have
- Develop practical tools for sharing lived experience safely and sustainably
- Experiment with a creative storytelling modality such as poetry, visual art, painting, or spoken storytelling
You do not need any previous storytelling or creative experience to take part. There is no expectation to share personal experiences with the group, and participants are encouraged to engage at a pace that feels right for them.
The focus is on exploration rather than perfection. This workshop is not about producing a polished piece of work; it is about creating space for reflection, connection, creativity, and self-expression.
Please note: Thanks to a generous donor, these workshops are free to attend. Participants will need to cover their own travel costs and bring their own lunch and snacks.
Upcoming workshops
We are offering five workshops in 2026, each centred around a different creative modality.
Upcoming workshop dates include:
- Saturday 18 July - Finding Your Voice Through Poetry
- Saturday 15 August - Storytelling Through Art: Creating Your Own Zine
- Saturday 26 September - Details coming soon
- Saturday 24 October - Details coming soon
- Saturday 14 November - Details coming soon
Further information about each workshop's creative focus will be shared as registrations open.
A Safe and Supportive Space
These workshops are grounded in a strengths-based, mana-enhancing approach that prioritises wellbeing, choice, and safety.
Participants are encouraged to engage in ways that feel right for them.
There is:
- No pressure to share personal experiences
- No expectation to create a finished piece
- No requirement to present work to the group
- Freedom to explore stories in ways that feel safe and meaningful
We recognise that storytelling can take many forms - spoken, written, visual, creative, or personal reflection - and that not every story needs to be shared directly.
A Typical Workshop Day
Morning - Foundations of storytelling, reflection activities, and practical tools for safe storytelling.
Lunch Break
Afternoon - Creative exploration facilitated by a guest artist, writer, or creative practitioner.
Closing Reflection - An opportunity to reflect on the day, consider next steps, and explore sustainable ways of sharing lived experience.
Express your interest
18 July - Grey Lynn location - Poetry
Express your interest for the 18 July poetry workshop in Grey Lynn, Auckland.
Spaces are limited and expressing your interest doesn't guarantee your place. Please wait for us to confirm.
15 August - grey lynn location - Creative art
Express your interest for the 15th August creative art workshop in Grey Lynn, Auckland.
Spaces are limited and expressing your interest doesn't guarantee your place. Please wait for us to confirm.
Facilitators
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Dan Goodwin - Finding Your Voice Through Poetry
express your interest for 18th julyJoin Dan Goodwin for a creative poetry workshop exploring storytelling through words. Through a series of guided writing exercises and prompts, participants will discover how poetry can be a powerful way to express themselves, reflect on their experiences, and connect with others.
No previous writing experience is needed. This workshop is about creativity, curiosity, and finding your own voice.
Dan is a poet, writer, and mental health advocate based in Aotearoa New Zealand. They work with Changing Minds as their community support manager and are passionate about using creativity, storytelling, and lived experience to help people connect with themselves and others.
An award winning performance poet, Dan has facilitated poetry workshops with people across Aotearoa and uses writing as a way to explore identity, emotions, and the stories we carry. Their work spans spoken word, theatre, and mental health advocacy, with a focus on reducing stigma and creating meaningful conversations.
Dan is excited to bring their love of poetry and storytelling to the Voices of Hope workshops, creating a welcoming space where participants can explore their experiences, connect with others, and discover the power of their own words.
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Jasmin Ryan - Storytelling Through Art: Creating Your Own Zine
express your interest for 15th augustJoin Jasmin Ryan for a playful mixed-media workshop exploring storytelling through creativity. Beginning with character creation and imaginative play, participants will experiment with colour, mark-making, collage, and visual storytelling before transforming their artwork into a unique handmade zine.
Using a range of creative materials, we'll explore different ways to express our voices, ideas, experiences, and interests ... without needing to be an artist or writer. This relaxed and engaging workshop invites curiosity, creativity, and self-expression while celebrating the many ways our stories can be told.
Jasmin is an emerging Creative Arts Therapist and 2026 Master's candidate in Creative Arts Therapies. She is passionate about creating expressive, engaging, and accessible creative experiences that foster connection, self-expression, and wellbeing.
Jasmin currently facilitates therapeutic arts groups for neurodiverse teens and people living with acquired brain injuries, alongside working one-on-one with clients. Drawing on her background in the arts and her therapeutic training, she enjoys using creativity, storytelling, and play as pathways for exploration and personal growth.
Jasmin is excited to bring her skills in creative arts and storytelling to the Voices of Hope workshops, creating a safe and playful space where participants can explore their stories, connect with others, and discover new ways of expressing themselves.
Thank you
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These workshops were shaped through a co-design process grounded in lived experience, collaboration, and community.
We want to acknowledge and sincerely thank the rangatahi who generously shared their ideas, experiences, insights, and perspectives throughout this process - Rosalie, Bradley, Rayhana, Maia, Grace, Janet, and Kenisha. Your voices helped shape not only the content of these workshops, but the heart behind them.
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We also want to acknowledge Changing Minds for their guidance, support, and collaboration throughout the development of this kaupapa. Your commitment to lived experience leadership and meaningful change has played an important role in bringing this workshop to life.
A special thank you also to Dan and Maddi, who guided our rōpū through this process so thoughtfully and with such care.
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This is a living project that will continue to grow and evolve through reflection, feedback, and the voices of those who take part in it.
Thank you for helping create a space grounded in safety, connection, honesty, creativity, and hope.
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