Places, People, and Their Stories in Community of Communes of the Pays de Lumbres
Capturing the essence and identity of a place can be both incredibly simple and surprisingly complex. Every day, people shape the narrative of their region—through their actions, choices, and the aspects of life they choose to highlight. These stories emerge naturally, unless we decide to guide them intentionally through methods like Storytelling or even Storymaking.
That’s exactly what brought the “southern partners” of the SIRR Project (Interreg North Sea) together at the heart of CC Pays de Lumbres (CCPL). Colleagues from Louvigné du Désert, AUD Saint-Omer, TrENDi and VISTRA at the University of Vechta, Malmö University, and our hosts from CCPL gathered for three enriching days of learning, sharing, and inspiration.
Exploring CCPL: A Region in Motion
Our program had two main goals: first, to get to know the federation of municipalities in Pays de Lumbres and their ongoing projects; and second, to dive into the philosophy and practice of Storytelling and Storymaking.
On the first day, our CCPL hosts organised a series of visits, presentations, and discussions that vividly illustrated their commitment to sustainable rural and local development. From strategic planning and participatory processes to electric mobility hubs, cycling promotion, and advanced waste management, the region is clearly focused on building a greener future. Even heavy industry is part of the transformation, with efforts underway to decarbonise the local cement plant.
But CCPL isn’t just about sustainability—it’s also a haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The region’s rolling hills offer perfect terrain for mountain biking, trail running, and canoeing. Social innovation is also alive and well here. One highlight was our visit to Boutique Singulier, a non-commercial, open-source space that fosters DIY culture and community collaboration in Lumbres and beyond.
I particularly enjoyed the commitment that our partners demonstrated to local and rural development. I felt a strong sense of place and pride in what they do!
This sentiment echoed the spirit of the LEADER-funded project Portrait de Village, which captured heartfelt interviews with locals sharing stories of life in their villages—authentic, emotional, and deeply rooted in place.
Local Governance and the Power of Proximity
As we compared the roles and capacities of local authorities across the SIRR countries, one thing became clear: administrative bodies like CCPL play a crucial role in steering development close to the ground. Despite a modest budget and limited competencies—covering areas like spatial planning, waste and mobility management, youth, economic development, and environmental protection—CCPL demonstrates how local governance can be a powerful driver of territorial resilience.
Kenneth Mølbjerg Pedersen and Filippa Säwe, University of Malmö, Sweden
The Art of Storymaking
The second and third days were dedicated to exploring Storymaking, guided by Malmö University experts Filippa Säwe and Kenneth Mølbjerg Jørgensen. This workshop built on a previous session held in Frederikshavn, Denmark, in March 2025.
We tackled big questions:
What does it mean to come from or live in a place? How do we imagine the future of its people? And how can we shape that future together?
Each participant developed a personal story about their region or organisation, using symbolic artefacts—figurines, tokens, and objects brought from Denmark—to give their narratives a tangible, visual dimension. These “prototypes” sparked rich discussions and revealed key “gemstones”—powerful ideas to guide local development. Among them: the need for hope in times of crisis, the importance of honest dialogue about shared resources, and the value of seeing stakeholders not just as representatives, but as people with emotions, perspectives, and dreams.
Since the introduction we had yesterday, I am thinking on how we could implement this powerful methodology in L’Agence (AUD Saint-Omer), with these fancy artefacts and canvases for participatory approaches with citizens and maybe also experts.
Recharging Our Purpose
Our journey through CCPL, Saint-Omer, and the surrounding hubs was filled with inspiring people and places. In just two and a half days, we engaged in deep reflection, meaningful dialogue, and creative exploration. Many of us left with our “purpose batteries” recharged—reminded of why we’re part of the SIRR project: to foster regeneration and resilience in our regions through thoughtful, collaborative, and grounded approaches.
In constant dialogue, rooted in history, and open to the new—that’s how stories are made. And that’s how places thrive.
