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First Story

Creative writing charity for young people

  • Login
  • Donate
  • Programmes
    • Young Writers Programme
    • London Voice
    • Connect events
    • Young Writers Festival
    • Young Mentors
    • Young Writers Residential
    • Folio Academy Mentorships
    • Philip Pyke Memorial Prize
    • National Writing Day
  • Writers
    • Our ambassadors
    • Our writers
    • Become a First Story writer
  • Schools
    • Partner schools HUB
    • Resources for partner schools
    • Become a partner school
    • Sample writing by participants
    • Free writing resources
    • Free Festival Toolkit
    • Free copyright education resources
    • BBC Teach x First Story resources
  • Locations
    • East Midlands
    • Greater London
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
  • About
    • About First Story
    • News
    • Impact Report 2023/24
    • Impact stories
    • Staff and trustees
    • Vacancies
  • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Newsletter sign-up
    • Make a donation

Everyone has a voice.

First Story helps students find theirs.

Find out how

We’re England’s leading creative writing charity for young people.

Our talented professional writers equip students in underserved communities with the confidence and skills to tell their own stories.

Watch Miles’ Story to learn more.

About us

Our writers

Our flagship Young Writers Programme places an inspiring professional writer in residence in a partner school for an academic year. Writers work intensively with a consistent group towards the publication of a printed anthology.

First Story writers are acclaimed and award-winning authors, poets and playwrights, with the skills to transform students’ creativity, confidence and ability.

Meet our writers

The Young Writers Programme

Our flagship provision includes a professional writer in residence, sixteen weeks of extracurricular creative writing workshops, a published anthology, support and resources for teachers, plus exclusive access to year-round activities and opportunities.

Learn more

Our anthologies

Since 2008, we’ve published thousands of poems and stories by young writers, in hundreds of beautifully produced anthologies—all of which are in the collection of the British Library.

We are committed to amplifying emerging voices from underrepresented communities and to providing platforms for our young writers to be read and heard.

Buy an anthology

News

Young Writers Festival North

1 May 2025//  by First Story

We’re excited to be holding our first Young Writers Festival North in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University this summer. In…

Young Writers Festival NorthRead More

Category: Manchester, News, North West

100 Word Story Competition Winners 2024/25 

1 May 2025//  by First Story

This year’s 100 Word Story Competition again demonstrated the talent amongst our young writers. 351 students from First Story partner schools…

100 Word Story Competition Winners 2024/25 Read More

Category: Competitions, London, Manchester, News, North West

Young Creatives Collective

31 March 2025//  by First Story

The Young Creatives Collective is an exciting part of First Story’s new Young Creatives Programme, which will nurture progression opportunities…

Young Creatives CollectiveRead More

Category: Alumni, East Midlands, London, North West, Yorkshire, Young Creatives

Your Voice

19 March 2025//  by First Story

An intensive KS3 programme to boost confidence and language skills in writing, discussion and sharing.  Led by a professional writer,…

Your VoiceRead More

Category: East Midlands, London, News, North West, Teachers, Yorkshire

First Story Young Creatives

27 February 2025//  by First Story

First Story is delighted to have secured funding to deliver a new Young Creatives Programme over the next three years.…

First Story Young CreativesRead More

Category: Alumni, Young Creatives

Six Word Story Competition Winners 2024/25 

23 January 2025//  by First Story

Our annual Six Word Story competition is a challenge in concise storytelling. Inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s famous six word story “For…

Six Word Story Competition Winners 2024/25 Read More

Category: Competitions, London, Manchester, News, North of England, North West, Partnerships, Yorkshire

First Story students appear live on Leeds radio station Chapel FM

7 January 2025//  by First Story

First Story students from Co-op Academy Grange in Bradford were invited to read their writing live on Leeds’ Chapel FM…

First Story students appear live on Leeds radio station Chapel FMRead More

Category: News, Partnerships, Yorkshire

Sophie Hiscock announced as new CEO of First Story  

10 December 2024//  by First Story

Sophie Hiscock, currently Director of Communications and Impact at Oxford’s The Story Museum, has been announced as the new Chief…

Sophie Hiscock announced as new CEO of First Story  Read More

Category: News

First Story’s response to the Curriculum Review

2 December 2024//  by First Story

Last week First Story submitted a response to the Government’s curriculum review. We welcome the chance to respond and wanted…

First Story’s response to the Curriculum ReviewRead More

Category: News, Opinion, Teachers

First Story Alumni Event at the London Library

12 November 2024//  by First Story

We invited First Story Alumni to an in-person event at The London Library on 8 November. It was a chance for…

First Story Alumni Event at the London LibraryRead More

Category: Alumni, East Midlands, London, News

Fair Education Alliance Youth Summit 2024

12 November 2024//  by First Story

By Tilly Wiggins, First Story Alumnus The 2024 Fair Education Youth Summit took place on Tuesday 29 October and brought together…

Fair Education Alliance Youth Summit 2024Read More

Category: Alumni, East Midlands, News

Announcing: Folio Academy Mentorships 2024/25

6 November 2024//  by First Story

We are now in the eighth year of our partnership with The Writers’ Prize, through which talented First Story students…

Announcing: Folio Academy Mentorships 2024/25Read More

Category: Alumni, East Midlands, London, News, Partnerships, Yorkshire

Read more news stories

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Contact us

44 Webber Street
London
SE1 8QW

020 7481 7777

info@firststory.org.uk

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