We’re England’s leading creative writing charity for young people.
Although our office is closed for now, our transformative programmes continue.
First Story’s flagship programme pairs professional writers with secondary schools in low-income communities, where they work intensively with students and teachers to develop young people’s creativity, confidence, and ability.
Our intensive, extra-curricular enrichment provision encourages aspirations as it expands horizons. Participants develop a set of attitudes, skills, and behaviours that underpin academic progress and support achieving potential.
A transformative experience for participating students. Inspiring support for teachers. An invaluable partnership for the whole school.
“First Story is a fantastic idea. Teenagers are under increasing pressure to tailor their work to exams, and to value themselves in terms of the results. First Story offers young people something else. It helps them find a voice. Creative writing can change people’s lives; I’ve seen it happen. It’s more than learning a skill. It’s about learning that you, your family, your culture and your view of the world are rich and interesting and important, whoever you happen to be.”
MARK HADDON
Anthologies
Every year, we publish exciting new work by talented young writers from under-represented communities.
First Story News
Saint Gabriel’s College ’20:20 Vision’ anthology launch
After months of lockdown and Zoom meetings, our CEO got to attend a First Story anthology launch in person earlier this month —albeit socially-distanced—when she went along to St Gabriel’s College in South London, to help students celebrate the publication of their new anthology ’20:20 Vision’.
Saint Gabriel’s College ’20:20 Vision’ anthology launchRead More
National Writing Day 2020 #247Challenge Highlights
National Writing Day 2020 was framed around a mass participation creative writing exercise, the #247Challenge. As a call to action, it proved to be incredibly popular, with thousands of stories and poems shared online. Here we have collated just a few of the incredible submissions we read.
Rathbones Folio Mentorships 2020-21 Open
First Story alumni can apply until the 31 July 2020 to take part in the 20/21 Rathbones Folio Mentorships programme, for a chance to work for a year with an acclaimed pro author. Two of this year’s mentees, Mariamah Davey and Nidaa Raoof, share their reasons to get involved.
First Story partnership with Unislam
Throughout 2019-20, we’ve been working in partnership with Unislam, the National Slam Poetry Festival, to place Unislam artists as ‘shadow writers’ in First Story schools. Jess Tickell caught up with one of these shadow writers, Sophie Horton.
Writing From Home
National Writing Day 2020 takes place on 24 June. With most young people at home due to the pandemic, this year’s programme is being delivered digitally. Our NWD 2020 resource bank includes nine, feature-length creative writing video tutorials led by talented First Story Writers-in-Residence. We’ve been encouraging users on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to give the tutorials a try and post new writing online. Here we highlight a small selection of the pieces shared during May via the hashtag #WriteFromHome.
National Writing Day Ambassadors Announced
The impressive line-up of literary talent helping us celebrate National Writing Day 2020 includes: current and former Children’s Laureates, Cressida Cowell and Malorie Blackman; Scotland’s National Poet, Jackie Kay; Carnegie medal-winning screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce; best-selling author Mark Haddon; writer and illustrator Laura Dockrill; poet Caroline Bird; playwright Vinay Patel; and children’s author SF Said.
School closures have highlighted the gulfs in inequality between young people
The COVID-19 pandemic has widened the gap for attainment, but has also robbed a generation of valuable social and emotional learning.
School closures have highlighted the gulfs in inequality between young peopleRead More
Announcing the 100-Word Story Competition 2019/20 winners
We’re really excited to announce the winners of the 2019 100-Word Story Competition judged by the lovely folks at Vintage books.
Announcing the 100-Word Story Competition 2019/20 winnersRead More
Covid-19 Update
With current government advice in mind, First Story’s Chief Executive, Antonia Byatt, responds to the uncertainty surrounding the outbreak of COVID-19.
Hull College students’ response to 21st century pressures: We Are Strong
On Tuesday 18th February, First Story were proud to present the launch of We Are Strong – an anthology of work written by a group of inspiring young women who powerfully opened up about the world around them.
Hull College students’ response to 21st century pressures: We Are StrongRead More
Regional Writing Stars – Autumn term
We ran a new competition this year – Regional Writing Stars – created to highlight and celebrate regional voices and stories.
A good education for all: First Story and the Ofsted inspection framework
Ofsted recently published its Annual Report for 2018/19, the year it introduced its new education inspection framework and sparked fresh debate about what works best to tackle disadvantage. Our Chief Executive shares her thoughts.
A good education for all: First Story and the Ofsted inspection frameworkRead More
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