Why peer-led storytelling matters: the start of something beautiful 

Everyone who knows me knows that peer-led education is incredibly close to my heart. I’ve seen its power with my own eyes — how it builds confidence, unlocks potential, and helps people truly believe in themselves. Once you witness that kind of transformation, it’s hard not to become a little obsessed. 

What makes peer-led work so powerful is the absence of hierarchy. Trust grows naturally. People feel safe to speak, to learn, and to share because knowledge flows between peers. I’ve watched people who once doubted themselves grow into confident individuals, empowered to pass their skills on to others. That kind of impact stays with you. 

When I joined IMIX, I carried this belief with me. I always wanted to bring the peer-led approach into our projects — but at the time, it wasn’t easy. We had no physical office, no established in-person network, and everyone was working remotely. Embedding peer learning into our daily work felt like a challenge that didn’t yet have a solution. 

That all changed when we secured funding to launch what had quietly become my dream project: The London Storytellers Project. 

This project gave me the perfect opportunity to bring together my media background and my passion for peer-led learning — and then let it do what it does best: work its magic. 

Over the years at IMIX, I’ve had the privilege of working with so many incredible storyteller-campaigners. They brought energy, joy and inspiration into everything we did. But our work together was often limited to short-term projects or specific campaigns. I always wished we could collaborate long-term, because I knew how powerful they could be as facilitators — especially in helping others rediscover confidence they may have lost along the way. 

And finally… that wish has become reality. 

The London Storytellers Project 

The London Storytellers Project has now officially kicked off, and at its heart is a deep commitment to being peer-led. The foundation of this work is simple but powerful: people learn best from one another — through shared experiences, skills, and belief in their own voices. 

To bring this vision to life, we recruited ten incredible individuals from our existing IMIX storytelling network — people I’ve worked closely with over the past four years. All of them have previously received media training through IMIX, and they are now stepping into a new role as peer facilitators. 

On the training date, I found myself in a room with these ten remarkable people, all with lived experience of migration. I already knew they were amazing — but seeing them together was something else entirely. The atmosphere was electric. It felt like standing inside a collective wisdom, a true community of practice. Each person brought not only their lived experience, but also a wealth of skills, qualifications and insight. 

We talk a lot, as a sector, about involving lived experience in our work. But in that room, I saw what that truly looks like in action. I couldn’t help imagining what might happen if real power was placed fully in their hands — if they were given the space and trust to design, plan and lead projects in their own way, for their own communities and beyond. These are people who have faced immense barriers, discrimination and challenges, yet have not only overcome them, but remain committed to helping others do the same. 

Their role in this project is to support new participants who may feel media-shy or unsure about sharing their stories publicly. Through honesty, empathy and practical skills, they are helping others step forward with confidence. 

Building a ripple effect 

One of the strongest elements of this project is its ‘train the trainer’ approach — a model we’re incredibly proud of at IMIX, and one that now carries professional CPD accreditation. This approach transforms participants into confident facilitators, empowering them to pass on skills in a way that is accessible, supportive and lasting. 

Each new cohort will be supported by facilitators from the previous group, creating a ripple effect of shared knowledge and empowerment. Over time, this peer-led model will grow organically — allowing storytellers to become trainers themselves, strengthening networks and building a powerful, connected community of confident media voices. 

This isn’t just another project. 

It’s the beginning of something deeply meaningful — a movement rooted in trust, shared power and lived experience. A reminder that when people are given the space to lead, they don’t just find their voice — they help others find theirs too.