There is pleasure in telling your own story. There is power and agency too.
Our creative writing programmes equip young people with the confidence and skills to thrive in life and education.
Our office is closed until further notice.
In light of the current uncertainty surrounding the outbreak of COVID-19 in the UK, our office has been closed until further notice. If you need to post something to us, please scan and email to the appropriate person below:
– Finance and administration: Lusungu Chikamata
– Fundraising and governance: Antonia Byatt
– Programme: Charlotte Prendergast
– IP consent and anthology production: Jay Bhadricha
Covid-19 Update
Our Chief Executive, Antonia Byatt, has outlined First Story’s response to the uncertainty surrounding the outbreak of COVID-19.
Our flagship programme pairs professional writers with secondary schools in low-income communities, where they work intensively with students and teachers to develop creativity, confidence and ability.
First Story’s Young Writers programme encourages young people’s aspirations as it expands their horizons. Participants develop skills that underpin academic attainment and support achieving potential.
Abdi’s Story
… Your potential is infinite and what you put in is what you get out. Doing First Story helped me to realise that.
A transformative experience for participating students. Inspiring support for teachers. An invaluable partnership for the whole school.
Anthologies
For more than decade, we’ve been publishing talented young writers from under-represented communities.
“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
Partners and Supporters
Parents and Guardians
We need IP Consent for your student to participate. Sign and submit your form here.
Latest Posts
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.
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.
Watch: Six Word Story 2019 finalists showcase
The 12 shortlisted stories in this year’s Six Word Story competition, performed by Juno Dawson, Nikesh Shukla, Caroline Bird, Priya O’Shea, Salena Godden, Joe Dunthorne, Bridget Minamore, Tom Holland, Tracy Chevalier, Damian Barr, Katie Thistleton, and Max Porter.
How our writers and teachers support each other
We’re committed to providing regular forums for our writers and teachers to share knowledge, skills and practical experience. Programme Manager for the North, Andy Hill, asked recent participants what they get most from the sessions.
We’ve created an LGBT+ training resource
To mark LGBT+ History Month, Writer-in-Residence Caleb Parkin put together a training resource giving practitioners the tools to deliver celebratory and inclusive writing workshops.
YWF19 Highlights
YWF19 in partnership with the University of Cambridge was attended by over 330 young writers and this year featured headline speaker Juno Dawson.
First Story alumna featured in Rathbones Review
Henna Ravjibhai talks First Story, working with Joe Dunthorne, and writing on the bus to college.
BBC Young Writers’ Award 2020 Launches
To celebrate the launch of the 2020 BBC Young Writers’ Award, we caught up with last year’s winner, Georgie Woodhead, to get some insider info on what it takes to win the competition.
