Annie Franklin - Featured volunteer: “Everyone has a story to tell…”

This month’s featured volunteer is mediator, writer and Vault stalwart, Annie Franklin.

So how did you come to be a volunteer at The Bank?

I moved to Eype from Gloucestershire in the summer of 2023, attracted by Bridport’s creative and literary vibe. There was a poster in the Tourist Information Centre that caught my eye; I was intrigued by the name “The Bank of Dreams and Nightmares” and pulled up the website. I just loved Nick’s story about how the charity began, inspired by Dave Egger’s 826 Valencia – the pirate store with a secret door to the Writing Room… I’d read about it in the Guardian, and here was Bridport’s own version. I was sold and signed up immediately.

So, are you a writer?

I’m a commercial mediator, which means I mediate in a business context when people have fallen out, but need to keep their professional relationship going. But my passion is writing, short-stories and plays and more. I believe that we tell ourselves stories all of the time and this connects to the mediation; it’s about listening to people’s stories.

You’ve worked tirelessly on the after-school journalism club “The Vault” for the last 3 editions.

Why does it appeal so much?

I love the freedom of The Vault. There’s no curriculum tick list; it’s genuinely child-led and the kids are so enthusiastic. They don’t have that adult critical voice that gets in the way, so it’s really refreshing to spend time with them. I love listening to them. I’ve seen some of them move from primary to secondary school and built up a real rapport. It’s not just about the stories they tell, it’s about the relationships they build with each other and us. There’s a real sense of community, and trust, which is so important. I used to work in HR in Employee Relations, which is how I ended up in mediation. When you talk to each other, you discover all these random connections like Ed supporting Forest Green Rovers – the Nailsworth football team down the road from where I used to live, and Ambs chicken-sitting in Nailsworth one New Year! You know World Peace doesn’t look that difficult to me. Stop making bombs and just talk to each other. I really believe you are never more than six steps from making a connection with someone; it’s like the social cement that binds a community.

Do you have a highlight from The Vault?

That has to be learning to play ducks with socks!

So why not the Storymaking workshops?

I didn’t have a great time at school, so I’m not that keen to revisit. The Vault is the one for me and the timings mean it fits with work. That’s the great thing about The Bank, it’s so flexible, there’s something for everyone – and that goes for the kids as well as the volunteers! I think if I’d had access to something like this, I would’ve been a professional writer. Sadly, I didn’t. I have half-finished scripts in a drawer and am still trying to finish my first novel!

So, what’s your view on volunteering? 

I think everyone should volunteer in some capacity. You should just do something different you don’t need to get paid for. Everyone has some time – it doesn’t have to be all-consuming. That’s the joy of The Bank too; you just do what you can do.

And if you could sum it up in 3 words? 

FUN, UNPREDICATABLE (the kids that is) and GRATIFYING.

And if you had a superpower, what would it be?

Reading minds. Definitely.

Funny, I thought Annie was going to say telepathy!