Rory Doherty knows how the power of being able to tell your story and have people listen can change lives.

As a teenager in Northern Ireland, he became suicidal after the deaths of two close members of his family. He said:

"I struggled with grief, I internalised a lot of questions about life, faith, and pain. Without an outlet, I turned to cannabis to numb myself and hit rock bottom."

Everything changed when he started putting his story into words and images, and sharing it with his cousin, a youth worker.

"She listened, really listened. It was the beginning of healing. I realised the power of storytelling, both as a tool for personal growth and social change. I wanted to help other young people find that same release and recognition."

After getting support and turning his life around, Rory studied community youth work at university and has spent two decades in peace and reconciliation work.

"In every community I worked in, I saw how young people and marginalised communities were being consistently failed by systems - education, justice, housing, and mental health.

"Too often, I was supporting people in deep crisis with little more than goodwill and overstretched resources. It felt like shouting into a void."

A Fellowship with Social Change Initiative allowed Rory to study models of youth-led activism and campaign strategies in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2019. He spent time in the townships, learning from local activists.

He said:

"I witnessed the deep scars that systemic injustice leaves, even decades after democratic change. There were striking parallels to what I’ve seen in post-conflict Northern Ireland: communities still segregated, systemic inequalities persisting, and young people carrying the emotional weight of the past.

"Both contexts have taught me that peace isn’t just about politics, it is about healing, dignity, and inclusion. The activists I met in South Africa helped me see how creativity, political education, and storytelling can help communities rewrite their futures. That’s something I’ve brought back to my work in Northern Ireland."

In 2020, he struck out on his own, setting up a social enterprise. The Belfast-based organisation uses restorative storytelling and community engagement to bridge the gaps in Northern Ireland, fostering understanding and societal change.

From community halls to Stormont, his social enterprise Voicing the Void is thriving in a nation that has faced historical divisions and now anti-immigration animosity.

Voicing the Void’s approach combines storytelling sessions, leadership, advocacy and campaigning training, community resilience workshops, and video production to amplify the voices of refugees, minority ethnic groups, and young people to share their lived experience and engage in transformative dialogue.

Rory said:

"I believe in the power of storytelling to heal, connect, and transform. When people are seen and heard, lives and systems can begin to change."

Participants are reached through social media, word of mouth, and Rory’s strong relationships with community-based organisations.

The storytelling programme encourages them to think about their identity, their life, and the key events that have shaped them in preparation to work with various media to share these thoughts and turn them into a story.

"We use the term restorative storytelling,” explained Rory. “It is not just about teaching people how to tell stories, it is about creating brave, inclusive spaces where lived experience is centred, power is shared, and listening becomes an act of solidarity. No one is ever pressured to share; we invite people into a storytelling and healing process only when they feel ready.

"Whether in a community setting, a justice process, or a creative workshop, we aim to help individuals make sense of their journey and contribute to collective change. For many, it is about restoring a sense of dignity, connection, and possibility — and building the confidence to speak into spaces where their voices have too often been silenced.

"Safeguarding the ethics around storytelling is so important. We support them on their journey and after they share their story, because I really feel that we're trying to create a movement of people driving meaningful change using their lived experience.

"If you're working with people who have gone through so much trauma or difficult obstacles, you can't expect people to want to share their stories without putting in this sort of holistic support."

A youth-led steering group, many of whom have experience of marginalisation through migration, justice involvement, trauma, or mental health challenges, helps design and deliver Voicing The Void projects, and all training is run with the support of someone who has previously benefited from it.

"They don’t just advise, they lead. They help design projects, shape events, and co-facilitate workshops. We don’t work for young people; we work with them. Their voice shapes our direction, our priorities, and our campaigns. They’ve helped lead projects around hate crime, refugee rights, and mental health."

Rory is proud of Voicing the Void’s recent successes. Using stories from real-world lives to work with organisations such as the Police Service of Northern Ireland has proved to be award-winning.

This year, ‘In Our Shoes’, a digital resource produced by Voicing the Void, won best Community Project at the Hummingbird Awards, which celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion in workplaces and communities in Northern Ireland.

The project to improve the policing of racially motivated hate crimes was launched at an event featuring short films about the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers living in South Belfast, and live storytelling by three Syrian women.

Rory said:

"By offering tailored training modules, our goal is to support organisations in addressing inequality, promoting diversity, and embedding inclusive practices within their policies and culture."

At its core, Voicing the Void’s focus is system change. After more than 20 years in community work, Rory has built trusted relationships with statutory bodies, funders, and political representatives.

"I actively reach out, ask for meetings, and invite decision-makers to our events so they can hear directly from those with lived experience.

"Our role is to act as a bridge between communities and institutions. We aim to challenge systems, yes - but also to shape the relationships and conditions needed for lasting, transformational impact."

Rory explained:

"It is about providing people who are most marginalised with an opportunity to share their story and then being connected to those in positions of power who should listen and do something."

And the approach is making history. Unlike the rest of the UK, in Northern Ireland victims rarely have the chance to speak at Parole Board hearings to share their impact statements in person.

"We supported the first woman to present in front of the Parole Commission in Northern Ireland,” Rory said. “Liz came through one of our storytelling projects delivered in partnership with the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. We’ve supported her campaign to secure the right for her victim impact statement about her sister’s murder to be heard by the Parole Board.

"She was silenced, it was wrong. We were able to support her to meet the Victims' Commissioner to share how she felt. Hopefully, the commissioner can take that on and make recommendations so this doesn't happen to other people coming forward to do this. We recognise there are three justice bills up for review later this year, and we're hoping we can feed directly into them and make systematic change."

From a start-up grant back in 2020, to further funding and mentorship which enabled Rory to employ a community engagement and programme assistant to increase outreach and engage more marginalised communities, UnLtd has been instrumental in the social enterprise's expansion plans and its transformation towards a more financially sustainable footing.

Last year Voicing the Void had a turnover of £100,000 and this year has received further support from UnLtd via a systems change programme run in partnership with the Henry Smith Foundation.

"We received £12,500 to develop our social enterprise arm. We are creating an online Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) training platform, specifically designed for public sector and private sector organisations. It will provide accessible and comprehensive resources on EDI, focusing on fostering inclusive environments, cultural competence, and restorative practices,” Rory said. “One of the most powerful aspects of being part of the systems change programme is the network of social entrepreneurs it connects me with. I’m now part of a cohort of 14 social entrepreneurs from across the UK, which has provided invaluable peer support, learning opportunities, and shared experiences. The cohort has become a source of inspiration and guidance as we all work to make systemic change in our communities."

Rory is a passionate advocate for the support UnLtd provides to social enterprises.

"I would strongly encourage anyone considering applying to UnLtd to go for it. Beyond the financial support, which has been crucial, the ongoing mentorship and community of support have been invaluable as Voicing the Void moves towards a more sustainable and impactful future.

"Starting and running a social enterprise can be daunting, but UnLtd offers a unique blend of resources and connections that truly make a difference in navigating the challenges and maximising impact.

"Let’s keep creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Because connection changes everything.”

Find out more about Voicing the Void.