Paignton Library Wins Europe Challenge Grant for Cultural Storytelling

Paignton Library and Ubuntu Educational & Mentoring Services CIC have been awarded funding through The Europe Challenge 2025–26, supporting a new project focused on unity and cultural celebration in Torbay.

Community Histories, Shared Stories offers six funded workshops that unite local families from diverse backgrounds to co-create a home-made magazine celebrating culture, tradition, collaboration, and storytelling.   

Paignton Library and Ubuntu Educational & Mentoring Services CIC will invite participants to explore themes of culture, memory, and migration through creative expression. Ubuntu is a creative organisation that brings inspirational, accessible education, focused on diversity and expressive arts. 

Community Histories, Shared Stories aims to foster connection, reduce social isolation, and support community wellbeing through creativity and cultural exchange. The project is part of The Europe Challenge 2025-26 from the European Cultural Foundation. As this is a funded project, there will be funding available to allow contributors to attend the sessions, helping reduce barriers to participation.  

This new initiative follows the success of The Gatherers project at Braunton Library, delivered in partnership with Honeyscribe and also funded by the Europe Challenge. The Gatherers was a key factor in Braunton Library being named Library of the Year South West, demonstrating the impact of creative, community-led programming in libraries. 

Nadia Lewis-Gorton, Project Coordinator at Ubuntu Educational & Mentoring Services CIC, said: "This project is about more than creativity; it is about visibility, connection, and giving communities the space to define their own stories. Through shared storytelling, art, and dialogue, we’re creating a space where people can celebrate who they are, find common ground, and be seen and heard in their own voices. Community Histories, Shared Stories invites participants to express their heritage and daily lives on their own terms, building confidence and belonging while strengthening the bonds between cultures that make Paignton such a vibrant place." 

Alex Kittow, Chief Executive Officer at Libraries Unlimited, added: “It’s such wonderful news that one of our libraries has been again chosen to benefit from funding from the European Cultural Fund. To have the incredible work our libraries do recognised outside of the UK is a real boost. The Gatherers project was really powerful and I look forward to seeing what Paignton Library and Ubuntu do with the local community and the journey these sessions will take everyone on. We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Europe Challenge, to learn from libraries and community groups across Europe and to create a sustainable activity that can support the development of communities and creativity.” 

Anyone interested in participating or partnering with the project is invited to fill out this form https://bit.ly/CommunityHistoriesSharedStories or call Eve Ashton on 07494800947.