Lippy People is an advocacy charity that uses video storytelling to help people to share their often challenging lived experiences with a wider audience. They help people use their experiences as a foundation for building their skills and resilience to affect positive personal and social change. Lippy People have worked with 100% Digital Leeds to embed digital inclusion support within their Life, Loss, Learning, Legacy (4Ls) project, working with people with learning disabilities.
“A conversation with the 100% Digital Leeds team really showed us how important digital inclusion is for people who have the potential to be socially isolated. We are thrilled that only a few simple tweaks have allowed us to make a difference in such an important area. It is great to see how our members are using their new skills to take ownership of their own work.”
Peter Townson, Learning and Development Manager, Lippy People.
Life, Loss, Learning, Legacy
Life, Loss, Learning, Legacy (4Ls) is a 12-week, peer-led storytelling and coaching service which supports people to reduce the isolation they often feel as a result of significant life-changing experiences including bereavement, end of life or significant changes in their health. The groups meet every week to share stories and explore the positive learning and legacies they can positively build on from their lived experiences.
Lippy People has worked with storytellers from the ages of 18 to 100 years old from a diverse range of backgrounds, including people with learning disabilities. They have co-produced and shared over 120 video stories on bereavement. You can watch the videos on the Lippy People website.
Embedding digital inclusion in their work
The skills that storytellers develop are those useful for life, as well as for future involvement in similar creative projects. When recording and editing, the video storytellers develop transferable skills such as learning how to use iPads and laptops, as well as scanners, cameras, and sound equipment.
“We frequently use digital equipment with people who are at risk of being digitally excluded. Talking to the 100% Digital Leeds team really illuminated how we could ensure that our members develop their digital skills as they work with us.”
Peter Townson, Learning and Development Manager, Lippy People.
Lippy People support storytellers to distribute their stories online through social media platforms, incorporating guidance on online safety. This ensures storytellers are empowered to share their stories as widely as possible and engage in powerful, self-led advocacy.
During the latest 4Ls project, working with adults with learning disabilities, Lippy People borrowed eight iPads from Leeds Libraries so that storytellers could film and photograph each other throughout the group sessions. This was instrumental in gathering peer-led learning to be included in the project learning report, which aims to use video as an accessible and interactive way to outline project impacts and outcomes.
The project was a huge success and storytellers expressed their excitement and gratitude at improving their digital storytelling skills.
“I was looking forward to learning about video and also how to video and take photos when I’m at group events and activities and now I feel more confident to do that.”
Storyteller involved in Lippy People’s 4Ls project.
Next Steps
After trialling using iPads in project delivery, Lippy People are now hoping to secure funding for their own iPads to be used on every project, which will improve the digital inclusion aspect of all of their work. They are working closely with 100% Digital Leeds to identify and secure funding to support the purchase.
Lippy People regularly attend Autism and Learning Disabilities Digital Inclusion Network (ALaDDIN) meetings to network with partners, share good practice related to digital inclusion, find out about upcoming funding opportunities, and learn about assistive technologies which can help people with learning disabilities or physical disabilities to access the internet and to use technology in ways which are empowering and useful for them.