Storytelling trip to Sheffield

Submitted by: Steadfast news correspondent, 14th Nov 09

Storytellers are a fun way of teaching children

Between Monday 9th and Thursday 13th November 2009 the Steadfast Trust funded a professional storyteller to attend four schools in Sheffield.

These were all-day events where children from year 3 to year 6 pupils were introduced to the Anglo-Saxon story of Hengist and Horsa. Maps were drawn and displayed on the Germanic tribes’ homelands, as well as places in the story such as Anglia, Essex, London and Kent.

These children were explained AS concepts such as parents-in-law, the custom of giving up things for Lent, the drawing of lots and what a thong was (examples of these were brought along). The importance for Anglo-Saxons of ‘giving your word’ were explained and how making a promise or swearing an oath was very important and that if broken would dishonour the person greatly. It was also explained how today people swear oaths in court to the effect that they tell the truth and that this comes down to us from court practice in Anglo-Saxon times.

The Story of Beowulf was told as well as displays of the rune-stick and explanations on how runes had their own order and so are collectively called a ‘futhork’. All classes were given a laminated table of each rune’s phonetic value, name and meaning.

The sort of questions asked by the children included “Are you a real Anglo-Saxon?”; “Did they have horses?”; “Did they have chariots?”; “Isn’t it illegal to carry a knife?”; “Was Grendal evil?”; “What happened to them?”.

In total over 350 children enjoyed this unique experience and learned a little more about their unique heritage.


A key charitable objective of the Steadfast Trust is the area of education. In fact three of the objectives focus on this area and are as followed...

C) TO ADVANCE EDUCATION AMONG SUCH PERSONS
E) TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC THROUGH BRINGING ABOUT AWARENESS OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO BRITISH HISTORY AND SOCIETY (BOTH PRE AND POST 1066) BY PEOPLE OF ANGLO-SAXON DESCENT OR ORIGIN;
F) TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN ANGLO-SAXON MUSIC AND OTHER FORMS OF ART AND CULTURE (BOTH MODERN AND ANCIENT);

The Steadfast Trust has been running successful trials on funding storytellers to go to schools and entertain and enlighten children on the unique cultural history of the Anglo-Saxon English.


In addition the Steadfast Trust has funded storytelling for two schools in Lancaster (one of which was a school for children with learning difficulties) which involved activities such as telling stories and explaining A-S poetry, riddles and runes to children in their early teens.


Having successfully run these trials, and found a number of suitable storytellers who have a proven track record of educating school children on the history of the English, the Steadfast Trust plans on developing this with a Grant Scheme in 2010 whereby the charity shall provide funding for schools to have their pupils entertained with storytelling and given free books, posters and publications aimed for children.


Many schools are limited by what they can fund and are forced to priorities their resources on curriculum activities, rather than cultural ones. This can result in pupils cultural history being severely neglected. It is hoped that with your continued support we can play a small role in helping to correct this.
Steadfast Trust Trustee
Julien Crighton