WHAT WE DO

 

We are educational publishers working to improve the lives of children, young people and adults living with difficulties, by sharing experiences, improving understanding and celebrating differences.

Sharing Experiences

Knowing you are not alone with whatever difficulty you face is a massive first step in coming to terms with, and facing, your challenge.

If other people can be open about the difficulties they face, then you will feel more able to talk about them too. Be part of the upward spiral.

If you want to share your personal story or tell us about your blog, please reach out to us via social media or hello@yourstoriesmatter.org

2023 Update: Note, we have a particular interest in content relating to supporting children at this time.

Improving Understanding

You could live a more fulfilling life if more people understood you, right? We work to raise awareness and improve understanding of anything we can that helps children, young people and adults live a more fulfilling life. This covers anything from being neurodivergent (e.g. Asperger's, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia), through physical and mental health issues, to LGBTQ+.

We use books to help begin the discussion between children and adults, brothers and sisters, neurodivergents and neurotypicals. Not medical books or textbooks, there are plenty of those. We use stories based on real life written and advocated by the people who face real life difficulties.

Update for 2023: We are refocusing on children’s books at the moment. If you think you might have a children’s book or graphic novel in you that can help spread awarenessthen please get in touch via authors@yourstoriesmatter.org

Celebrating Differences

Some of the most amazing talents are exhibited by those who face a difficulty.

  • People who are 'wired differently' often have talents that neurotypical people could only hope for - we don't want to be stereotypical here by listing some, but you know it to be true. Celebrate it.

  • People who have a physical disability perform daily miracles just to get through the day. It needs celebrating (we love the Paralympic Games for that).

  • People who are born in bodies that don't represent how they feel inside, or prefer to be with people of the same gender, struggle with gender stereotyping. But social norms should be questioned and diversity celebrated.

  • Even people who have suffered deep depression can come through that depression with an enormous appetite for life. This should be celebrated.

We work to celebrate these talents, abilities and diversities in the books we publish. For instance, in schools we hope more and more children will begin to see the characters in our stories as people with superpowers or, at the very least, brave for holding on to what they believe in the face of pressure from others. We want to encourage children to look for their talents and respect differences in others (and that being 'normal' is actually all a bit boring)!