Every story needs more than one pair of hands

The Scríobhaí

Every story has a Seanchaí, the person whose story it is. Some are natural storytellers. Others have the story but not the words, or write English as a second language, or are simply too close to it. A Scríobhaí (scribe) sits beside them and helps write each week’s episode, in the owner’s voice, never their own.

People or AI?

Story owners choose who helps them tell it:

• Themselves, with a Keeper checking each episode before it goes out.
• A Scríobhaí, a volunteer writer from this list.
• An AI first draft from Claude, written only from what’s already public on the story. The owner, or their Scríobhaí, edits and approves every word.

Whichever they choose, every episode says who wrote it. Messages to a found person are always written by people, never by AI.

Becoming a Keeper

Keepers are trained volunteers. They read the private tips, look after reported posts, and are the only people who ever contact a family, gently and with their consent. It’s the most trusted role on the site, so there are steps before anyone is appointed:

1. Application read
2. A short video call
3. Two references checked
4. Garda vetting (or AccessNI) done
5. Safeguarding training
6. The Keeper’s promise signed
7. Shadowed a Keeper for two weeks
8. First tips read with a mentor
9. Appointed by an admin

You need to be 18 or older to be a Keeper. Vetting is free for volunteers through our partner organisation.