Call Out: Co-Creation Facilitator

Co-Creation Facilitator - Call-Out

We are looking for a Co-Creation Facilitator to work with us on creating new audio story installations as part of The Story Den Project with children aged 7-11 in Wigan and Leigh, Greater Manchester.


The Story Den Project is a continuation of our work co-creating audio stories, most recently with Cub that has been shared with over 4,000 young people and their families in the East Midlands and North West. During this new phase: we will co-create audio story installations with children aged 7-11 years old in Wigan and Leigh in October 2026, creating two new short audio stories focussed on our relationship with nature & the climate crisis; commission a designer to create three bespoke pop-up structures between January-March 2027; and finally tour the story installations to eight libraries across Wigan borough over twelve weeks between June-September 2027.

About the Role

Fee: £4,000 (plus expenses)

Key dates:

Start date: 14 September 2026

Wigan Group sessions: 26 - 30 October 2026 at Wigan Youth Zone (over 4 days)

Leigh Group sessions: w/c 12 October - w/c 9 November 2026 (weekly)

Recording: February 2027


We are looking for a Co-Creation Facilitator to work with our Lead Authors to plan and deliver sessions with local young people aged 7-11 - one group at Wigan Youth Zone and school groups at Leigh Library. The aim of the sessions is for the young people to work with the Lead Authors to create new audio stories around 12 minutes long that have a focus on the climate crisis, nature and British wildlife. We would like the young people to be inspired by the sessions, feedback on writing in progress and make creative decisions throughout the process.


The aim is to create ‘Thrutopias’ - stories that provide realistic and actionable paths to a more sustainable future, not the despair offered by Dystopias or the unattainable heights of Utopias. We would also like to explore and develop a more regenerative practice and are working with a Regenerative Practitioner during the project to learn more about permaculture design. We are open to the stories’ form - for example, they can take a theatrical/dramatic form, a prose form or poem form but must have a followable narrative.


As this role involves working directly with young people, the Co-Creation Facilitator will have an Enhanced DBS check or be willing to get one.


Responsibilities include:

  • Engaging with the climate focussed themes of the project both in creative content and ways of working

  • Lead on creating sessions plans and delivering engaging sessions with young people aged 7-11, with the Lead Author

  • Support the Lead Author to complete a story draft that is accurate to the ideas and form agreed with the young people

  • Supporting us to create a commissioning guide that incorporates best practice in co-creating these stories with young people

  • Leading on the evaluation strategy and data gathering with the groups of young people

  • Ensuring all safeguarding measures are adhered to during the session, in collaboration with our partners


We would love to hear from people who:

  • Have a developed practice and strong track record of working and creating with young people

  • Are able to unleash young people’s imagination and creativity through playful and engaging activities

  • Value young people’s creativity and ensure their ideas, imagination and perspectives are carried through into the final artistic outputs

  • Are interested in climate action and sustainable working 

How to apply

Please send a CV, short cover letter to the Producer, Courtenay, at courtenay@carbontheatre.org.uk. The cover letter can be sent as a written piece no longer than 1 page or a video or audio file no longer than 3 minutes.

Deadline for applications: 12pm (noon), Tuesday 1 September 2026.

We will then invite some applicants for a short online interview.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Monday 21 September 2026.

Further Information

The role is on a freelance contract and you will be responsible for your own tax and national insurance responsibilities. We encourage applications from anyone interested in being part of this project. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunities encouraging and embracing diversity and inclusivity in all areas of activity. We have an access budget to support access needs and reasonable adjustments during the project, including this recruitment phase.

If you require any access support in submitting an application to us or would like to submit your application in an alternative format, please email courtenay@carbontheatre.org.uk

Courtenay Johnson