Unlock Social & Emotional Growth in as little as 10 weeks!

At StoryForge, we help learners develop essential life skills through creative storytelling, teamwork, and problem-solving, empowering them to build confidence, navigate challenges, and grow socially and emotionally in a supportive environment.

The following sample data highlights the development of learners over a 10-week programme:

📈 +22% increase in teamwork and collaboration
🤝 +13% boost in making friends and navigating social situations
🧘 +16% improvement in emotional regulation and calming strategies
💪 +9% improvement in perseverance and work ethic
📖 +16% rise in school enjoyment and engagement

The data is sourced from two sets of ten-session pilot programmes with eight Year 8 participants at Heworth Grange School, Gateshead. Participants completed an ELSA Support-approved Social & Emotional Learning questionnaire at the start of the programme and again after the final session. The results demonstrate measurable growth in key life skills, which align with broader academic research in the field.

Praise for StoryForge

“There's always more than one way to solve each problem. I like that."
Kai, 13

"I like that we get to take time to stop and think about the situation and plan what to do next". Kara, 13

"This is a lesson which helps train your instincts. I love it, it really gets me through the day". Jeana, 13

"I play a knight. I love getting to be the hero and stepping up against bad guys. These sessions make me enjoy school more". Keith, 12

"I was unsure at first, but it's actually class. The sessions go by very fast!". Leon, 12

“I’m genuinely surprised we made it out of that crypt alive - I thought we were all gonners! ”. Rylee, 12

Students of Heworth Grange School

“Andrew's programme showcased creative and engaging teaching through storytelling, digital resources, and active learning strategies, ensuring high levels of participation and enthusiasm. His dynamic delivery, effective scaffolding, and well-designed stretch-and-challenge questions fostered deep thinking and inclusivity among the learners.

Praise and constructive feedback were consistently meaningful, motivating learners and reinforcing their progress. The session concluded with an impactful plenary, consolidating learning through a thoughtful cause-and-effect activity.”

Claire Bellerby

Head of Department, Gateshead College

What is StoryForge?

StoryForge is a tabletop adventure-based educational game that combines creative storytelling, teamwork, and problem-solving. It encourages structured conversations, critical thinking, and decision-making through simulated scenarios before discreetly creating space for introspection and instinct development. The game provides a focused, time-bound environment for self-expression, exploration, and the development of social and emotional skills.

Promotes positive mental well-being and constructive change in a safe space.
Empowers learners by offering multiple choices and agency, enabling them to shape their own stories.
Develops essential collaboration skills and equips participants to navigate real-world challenges.
A return to analogue play in an increasingly digital world, emphasizing storytelling through conversation, cooperation, and world-building.
Enhanced by immersive play aids like maps, game boards, character tokens, dice, and music.
Originally created for small groups of 4-5 learners aged 9-16, but adaptable for all ages, including adults.

Research-backed and Adaptable

All elements of StoryForge are informed by evidence-based research on learning and social development, ensuring it is both effective and engaging. The program is adaptable, allowing facilitators to tailor each session to the needs of individual learners. A basic understanding of spoken English is recommended, but no prior experience is required.

Why it Works

Above all, StoryForge is fun! Learners don't perceive it as formal education—they see it as a game.

This enjoyment draws them in, creating an environment where trained facilitators can subtly introduce social development techniques that help build confidence, resilience, and essential life skills. The game allows learners to step into the role of the hero, offering moments where they can experience genuine feelings of competence and confidence. These emotions, though shaped within a fictional world, create tangible experiences which carry back over into real life, empowering learners way beyond the game table.

StoryForge is more than just a game. It is a powerful and invaluable educational tool. By simulating immersive worlds, we allow learners to explore and shape who they want to become.

How a Game of StoryForge Works

StoryForge is a unique sub-genre within the world of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), a medium that has been evolving for over half a century.

A game session requires a group of 4-5 learners to come together, either around a table or online, to collaborate through creative conversation. Guided by a set of rules, the group plays out an emergent story that unfolds within their collective imagination.

Learners take control of the main characters of the story, guiding them through a fictional world filled with challenges, puzzles, treasure, and adversity, all while developing a shared narrative.
The game incorporates experience-enhancing materials, such as detailed maps, game boards, character tokens, dice, and music, to engage learners and cater to different learning styles.
Playing StoryForge is similar to engaging with a Choose Your Own Adventure book, where players assume the role of the protagonist and have significant agency in determining the story’s direction.
To an observer, a StoryForge game would resemble an improvised audiobook drama, where learners take on the roles of both creator and audience, collaboratively crafting the narrative in real-time.

The Role of the Facilitator

The facilitator plays a central role in guiding the learners through a StoryForge game session.

Create an exciting and immersive atmosphere by vividly describing the environment and helping learners build mental images of what their characters can see, hear, and explore.
Earn the trust of the learners by creating a fun, supportive environment where everyone feels safe and engaged.
Serve as the arbiter of the game setting and rules, making narrative decisions when situations arise that are not explicitly covered.
Introduce narrative challenges and dramatic conflicts, encouraging learners to think critically and make decisions that drive the story.
Portray all the dialogue and opinions of side characters the learners’ characters might encounter, ensuring dynamic and engaging interactions.
Maintain the cycle of play by responding in real-time to the learners’ character actions, ensuring the game flows smoothly.
Discreetly introduce opportunities for social development, helping learners build high-quality social skills and emotional intelligence in a natural and enjoyable way.