Four colored ribbons with the words "EXPLORE," "EXPRESS," "CONNECT," and "GROW."

Sensemaking through storytelling

Brave Day is a strategic and creative storytelling practice helping researchers, programme teams and purpose-led organisations understand, capture and communicate learning, lived experience and impact.

We work across health, higher education, public services, culture and communities, using film, photography, audio, facilitation and training to make complex work more human, accessible and meaningful.

Our work often begins before anyone presses record: helping teams clarify what they're trying to understand or communicate, whose voices matter, and how stories can support learning, connection, reflection and change.

Rooted in ethics, dignity and collaboration, we create thoughtful storytelling that respects the people at the heart of it and has value beyond the immediate piece of content.

Who we work with

  • GMCA Logo

    GMCA

  • NHS GM logo

    NHS GM

  • Manchester Metropolitan University logo

    Manchester Metropolitan University

  • Rochdale Breaking Barriers CIC

    Rochdale Breaking Barriers CIC

  • A Brilliant Thing CIC

    A Brilliant Thing CIC

  • The Roots Programme

    The Roots Programme

  • BBC Radio

    BBC Radio

  • RFK Human Rights UK

    RFK Human Rights UK

  • The Open University

    The Open University

Meet the founder

Brave Day is led by Kirstie Henderson, Founder and Creative Director, a filmmaker and strategic storytelling consultant

with more than 25 years’ experience across creative production, communications and community-centred storytelling.

Kirstie often works as a thinking partner and creative lead, helping teams clarify what they are trying to understand or communicate, shaping the storytelling approach and bringing in trusted collaborators where additional production or specialist expertise is needed.

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Kind words from our clients

Two women sitting at a table with recording equipment, looking at a laptop, in front of large windows with city buildings in the background.

“I’ve worked with Brave Day a few times and always found it to be a massively positive experience.

Most recently, Kirstie developed community reporting films to capture our learning around the GMCA and NHSGM Live Well Communities Fund. This was a complex job with lots of different groups and people to liaise with.

Kirstie was endlessly patient with us, confident and competent, and delivered high-quality videos on time that captured our learning and communicated the essence and heart of the project to diverse audiences.

I would heartily recommend working with her.”

Zoe Porter
Associate Director: Live Well & Neighbourhoods
NHS Greater Manchester

  • “Kirstie was great to work with from start to finish. We were really happy with the end product, and our communications and engagement team felt more confident producing high-quality, engaging content across multiple platforms.”

    Jessica Herbert

    Head of Campaigns, Digital and Design — NHS Greater Manchester

  • “Brave Day is a team you can trust with high-level stakeholders. Their approach is professional, creative, and thoughtful, with real attention to detail and a deep understanding of how a film will meet its aims.”

    Pete Jones

    Marketing Manager — Manchester Metropolitan University

  • “Kirstie is a rare mix of highly creative and deeply grounded. She listens carefully and turns complex ideas and vague hunches into clear, compelling films. She’s patient, thoughtful, and a genuinely collaborative partner.”

    David Heinemann

    Former Co-Director — The Roots Programme

  • “From the first conversation, I knew I’d found someone who really listened. Kirstie understood what I needed and had the professional skill to translate it into something that made sense to others. She’s a storyteller who works with real care.”

    Sophie Stephenson

    The Thinking Project

  • “Kirstie has a vast range of experience in film making, creative direction and coaching for community and social justice projects, connected through the power of storytelling. This lens brought a unique skillset into the room as Kirstie used Healing Centred Design to encourage authenticity through facilitation."

    A Brilliant Thing CIC

Let’s chat!

Ways we can work together

1.

Research & Impact Storytelling

Long-term or complex programmes where you help make sense of learning, lived experience, change and impact through story.

Learn more

2.

Strategic Storytelling & Training

Workshops, consultancy, facilitation and Before You Press Record type support around purpose, ethics, commissioning, storytelling strategy and skills.

Learn more

3.

Film, Photography & Audio

Standalone creative production for events, campaigns, organisations and projects.

Learn more
  • A group of five people standing in the corridor of an office building, smiling at the camera - from Brave Day, A Brilliant Thing CIC, Unlimited Potential and Elephant's Trail - after recording a podcast together

    GMCA Live Well Communities Fund Stories

  • Breaking Barriers - multimedia workshops

    Breaking Barriers - Multimedia workshops

  • Brilliant Thing CIC - Healing-centred design

    Brilliant Thing CIC - Healing-centred design principles workshop

  • A woman being interviewed in a quiet office space with large windows and a cityscape view by a colleague as part of the Brave Day digital skills training workshop for NHS Greater Manchester.

    NHS GM - Video storytelling training

  • A woman, Kirstie Henderson, founder of Brave Day, wearing a straw hat and a blue jacket, films with a large camera in front of a man and a young girl at an outdoor event in a park. People and a red canopy are visible in the background.

    Breaking Barriers - health & wellbeing films

Our storytelling framework

Four colored ribbons with the words "EXPLORE," "EXPRESS," "CONNECT," and "GROW."

Sensemaking through storytelling starts with understanding what is already there, while staying curious about what has yet to emerge.

We don’t arrive with a fixed story or format. We work with your team, partners and communities to explore the context, experiences and learning around the work, then shape a storytelling process that fits your purpose and people.

Explore, Express, Connect and Grow is our flexible framework for moving from listening and understanding through to expression, connection and longer-term value.

Explore
Listen, understand the context and identify what matters.

Express
Create thoughtful ways for people and ideas to be heard.

Connect
Shape stories and insights so others can understand and use them.

Grow
Create learning, skills and value that can continue beyond the project.

Learn more