Stories Without Borders

Welcome to the very first episode in our special StoryQuest series for Bradford and Beyond on BCB 106.6FM! We’re kicking things off with an exciting tale created and performed by a pupil from Dixon’s Manningham Primary School, as part of The Adventures of Bradford, a storytelling initiative that empowers children to become the authors of their own stories. In today’s episode, 10-year-old Nafisa introduces us to Amelia and the Gem Stealer, an action-packed fantasy filled with fire-breathing dragons, magical portals, clever riddles, and one brave hero on a quest to save her city’s most precious treasure. Alongside her loyal sidekick Rex, Amelia faces fearsome challenges and ultimately makes a powerful choice: to forgive. ✨ About StoryQuest: Founded by former clinician and author Kate Markham, StoryQuest blends creative writing and neuroscience to build emotional wellbeing and self-belief in children. This unique method starts with oral storytelling and encourages collaboration, curiosity, and courage, helping pupils unleash their voices and own their narratives. 🎧 This is the first of five original stories brought to life by Dixons Manningham students. Join us for a week of imagination, bravery, and brilliant young voices.

In this final episode of our special StoryQuest series on Bradford and Beyond for BCB 106.6FM, we present the last of five original stories created and performed by Dixon’s Manningham Primary School — part of The Adventures of Bradford initiative.

Today, we hear from Daiya, an 11-year-old with a vivid imagination and a powerful message. Her story, "Daiya and the Demon of the Mountain," takes us on a journey across oceans, into enchanted jungles, and up to the shadowy peaks of a dangerous mountain. With magical sidekicks, talking animals, and a battle against darkness, Daiya’s tale blends fantasy and courage, and finishes with a lesson we all need:
“Never judge what you cannot see, and always believe in yourself.”

✨ About StoryQuest:
Founded by former clinician and author Kate Markland, StoryQuest uses creative writing and neuroscience to empower children with emotional literacy, confidence, and a sense of authorship over their own lives. Through collaborative storytelling and oral narration, pupils build their narratives before shaping them into full-fledged adventures.

This episode marks the end of our pilot series,  and a heartfelt thank you to all the brilliant young authors from Dixon’s Manningham for sharing their voices with Bradford and beyond.

🎧 Listen now to discover the magic only a child's imagination can create.

In this episode of StoryQuest Voices, we join broadcaster Peg Alexander live on BCB Radio to explore The Adventures of Bradford, a transformative storytelling project empowering children to become authors of their own worlds. Creator Kate Markham and Dixon's Manningham Primary teacher Tom Hurst share how it all began with a simple question to Kate's son Gabriel Khan: “Do you want to be the hero of your own story?” What followed was a journey of storytelling, creativity, and emotional growth. Kate and Tom discuss the impact of storytelling on children's emotional intelligence, self-belief, and writing confidence, particularly among boys and SEND pupils. Blending neuroscience with imagination, the project turns classrooms into creative sanctuaries where grammar flows naturally, friendships deepen, and young voices shine. It’s a powerful conversation about literature, legacy, and the generational magic of telling your own story, right from the heart of Bradford.

In this episode, Kate Markland joins BCB Radio live from Centenary Square to share the story behind The Adventures of Bradford, a powerful new initiative empowering children to become the authors of their own lives. Born from storytelling sessions with her son Gabriel, the project has blossomed into a citywide movement where children in Bradford classrooms are encouraged to create their own fictional adventures, free from the constraints of grammar and spelling, at least at first. With peer support, imagination, and emotional expression at its heart, this approach not only enhances creative writing skills but boosts confidence, wellbeing, and connection. Kate discusses the project’s classroom method, its emotional impact, and the growing excitement around publishing a citywide collection of children’s stories, all told by the voices of Bradford's next generation of storytellers.