Angela McCabe, Family Support Worker at Belfast’s Beechmount Sure Start is BookTrust’s Story Sharer of the Year. Here’s her inspirational story
Angela McCabe, Winner of BookTrust’s Story Sharer of the Year Award
Angela says: “If my younger self could see me now, winning an award for storytelling, she would be in complete disbelief and incredibly proud.
“As a child, I struggled deeply with reading because of dyslexia. I remember the dread I felt whenever it was my turn to read aloud in class in primary school. Fear chipped away at my confidence.
“After I left school, I began working in a day-care setting. I still lacked confidence in reading aloud, especially to a group – and that fear I had as a child still lingered. So, I started small. I would read to the children one-on-one, where the pressure was lower and I could go at my own pace.
“Slowly, those moments helped rebuild my confidence, bit by bit, I began pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I started reading to small groups, then larger ones. With every story my belief in myself grew.”
Today, as a Family Support Worker Angela runs a six-week storytelling programme at Beechmount Sure Start using BookTrust’s Bookstart Toddler resources to engage children and parents in reading.
What once felt impossible has become something I love and thrive in, she says. Winning an award for storytelling is not just a recognition of what I do now, it’s a celebration of how far I’ve come. It’s proof to my younger self that struggling didn’t mean failing, it just meant my path would look a little different and perhaps made everything even more meaningful in the end.
Angela’s response to winning BookTrust’s Story Sharer of the Year Award
Angela’s approach to sharing stories with families
“My personal journey shapes how I support families today,” Angela says. “When I run storytelling sessions for parents and children, I always remind them it’s ok if they don’t know every word. Reading isn’t about perfection, it’s about connection.
“The BookTrust packs are highly suitable for the families I work with because they are designed to be inclusive and user-friendly. The books often have vibrant illustrations and simple text, which can be especially helpful for families who may face challenges like language barriers or literacy difficulties. The accompanying activities encourage interaction and discussion which supports children’s communication skills and strengthens parent-child attachment.
“I encourage parents to skip words if they need to, or to simply talk about the pictures. Describing what they see, asking their child questions, and making up parts of the story is just as valuable. The most important part is spending that time together, bonding and making special memories through books.
Angela also developed the idea of creating personal storybooks for each family – with photos of parents and children together, to help make the story feel more relatable and meaningful.
“For parents who may struggle with literacy, these personalised books are a powerful tool,” she says. “The images help tell the story, and that visual connection can be even more impactful than words on a page. My hope is that these books not only encourage a love of reading but also build confidence and joy around sharing stories as a family.”
Seeing families discover the magic of stories over time
Angela says: “There was one family who attended my storytelling sessions regularly. At first the parents seemed unsure about the value of the sessions. They would sit on their phones or chat quietly while their child listened to the stories. At the start, it felt like books weren’t really a part of their home life, but over a few weeks something shifted. I noticed the child starting to engage more, pointing things out, laughing at repeated phrases and asking to take books home.
“Slowly the parents began joining in too. The dad started doing the actions during rhymes, and the mum began asking for book recommendations. One day, she told me she’d started using the books we read in the session as part of their evening routine at home.
“Now, they arrive early, choose their favourite story together, and sit close during the sessions. It’s been amazing to see them go from feeling disconnected to truly enjoying storytime as a family. It shows how consistent, welcoming spaces can help change attitudes and build confidence over time.”
What BookTrust’s Story Sharer of the Year Award means to Angela
Penny Ambrose, Coordinator for Beechmount Sure Start nominated Angela for BookTrust’s Story Sharer of the Year award.
“Sure Start’s aim is to support children in their Early Years, and to do that, we need to support their parents,” she says, “Life is tough, and there are so many stressors that parents face. It’s about improving parental capacity, and helping to make childhood as wondrous and exciting as it can be.
“When Angela came to work for us, she was just a natural fit. She’s very supportive and likes the hands-on work with children. She designed all our programmes for parents and children, including how we incorporate Bookstart Toddler. She has made sure that within every programme there’s opportunities for play, for sharing songs and rhymes, for sharing stories, and playing with your child. She’s been fantastic at it.”
Penny adds: “Angela is a consummate professional within the Early Years sector and great role model for anybody in life. Winning BookTrust’s Story Sharer of the Year Award means so much to her, because of the journey she’s been on as a parent and as an Early Years practitioner, and it means a lot to Beechmount Sure Start.
“This award recognises skills, the knowledge and experience, but it also underpins the value of Early Years practitioners in a sector that is often undervalued.”
Angela says: “My passion has always been about sharing the joy of reading- not just the stories themselves but the magic they create between parents and children. I bring the books to life in a way that helps families connect, laugh, imagine and learn together.
“Through every session, every themed activity and every silly voice or dramatic pause, my goal has always been to make reading fun and meaningful from the start.”
