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First Story

Creative writing charity for young people

  • Bookshop
  • News
  • Login
  • Donate
  • Programmes
    • Young Writers Programme
    • Young Writers Festival
    • Summer residential
    • Folio mentorships
    • National Writing Day
  • Writers
    • Our ambassadors
    • Who we work with
    • Becoming a First Story writer
  • Schools
    • Partner schools HUB
    • Resources for partner schools
    • Free Festival Toolkit
    • Free writing resources
    • BBC Teach x First Story resources
    • Becoming a First Story partner school
  • Locations
    • North of England
    • East Midlands
    • Greater London
  • About
    • About us
    • Our impact
    • Staff and trustees
    • Vacancies
  • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Make a donation

First Story News Archive

Eco-poetry competition winners 2022

15 June 2022 //  by First Story

The environment is always something which comes up in our school anthologies, so we know it is something which means a great deal to a great number of First Story young writers. The entries to this year’s Eco Poetry competition were testament to this, as they were as evocative and thought provoking as ever.

Category: Competitions, News

Pilot of First Story’s new CPD course for teachers, ‘Think Like a Writer’

2 May 2022 //  by First Story

Supporting teachers has always been an important part of First Story’s work. Through our flagship Young Writers Programme, we freely share creative writing classroom resources with our partner schools. We also offer complementary Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training for First Story lead teachers and colleagues. During the pandemic, our CPD sessions necessarily moved online. This …

Category: News, Teachers, Writers

100 Word Story Competition Winners 2022

31 March 2022 //  by First Story

The entries for this year’s 100-Word Story Competition were as vibrant and thought-provoking as ever. We were completely blown away by the creativity and craft of the young writers who took part! 

Category: Competitions, News

First Story partners with Goldsmiths University to further the careers of emerging young writers  

16 March 2022 //  by First Story

In 2021 First Story were thrilled to partner with Goldsmiths University once again, offering a student completing an MA in Creative Writing & Education the opportunity to become a First Story ‘Shadow Writer’ and work alongside a Writer-in-Residence to support the delivery of one of our Young Writers Programme to students in a low-income community.

Category: London, Partnerships

Tracy Chevalier announced as First Story Ambassador

11 February 2022 //  by First Story

Tracy Chevalier has been announced as Ambassador for First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. Chevalier will join Patrice Lawrence MBE in championing First Story’s mission to promote the power and pleasure of creative writing to students in low-income communities.

Category: News, Partnerships, Supporter Stories, Writers

First Story Writer-in-Residence, Cecilia Knapp wins Ruth Rendell Award

26 January 2022 //  by First Story

First Story Writer-in-Residence, Cecilia Knapp has won the 2021 Ruth Rendell Award, honouring the author or writer who has had the most significant influence on literacy in the UK over the past year.

Category: London, News, Writers

Six Word Story 2021 shortlist and winners announced

19 January 2022 //  by First Story

Our annual Six Word Story competition is open to all First Story participating schools. From a shortlist of excellent stories, the editors at Penguin Random House picked this year’s winner.

Category: Competitions, East Midlands, News

FIVE First Story bursaries for PGCert at University of Cambridge

11 January 2022 //  by First Story

Five bursary places available to study for a University of Cambridge PGCert in Teaching Creative Writing at its Institute of Continuing Education.

Category: News, Partnerships, Teachers

Patrice Lawrence MBE announced as First Story Ambassador

3 January 2022 //  by First Story

Carnegie Medal nominee, Patrice Lawrence MBE has been announced as Ambassador for First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. Lawrence will champion First Story’s mission to promote the power and pleasure of creative writing to students in low-income communities. 

Category: News, Partnerships, Supporter Stories, Writers

Young writers exploring higher education through Connect events

20 December 2021 //  by First Story

Michelle Burke is Lead Teacher at Haringey Learning Partnership: Commerce House, an alternative provision school and service in Wood Green, London offering specialised teaching and support to students with complex needs.

Category: East Midlands, London, Outcomes and Impact, Partnerships

Angie Thomas

Young Writers Festival 2021 Highlights

8 December 2021 //  by First Story

First Story history, 2021’s celebrations took place entirely online, with students and schools joining us virtually to take part in workshops and hear award-winning authors discuss their work.

Category: News, Young Writers' Festival

Passing the virtual baton: corporate fundraising success

24 November 2021 //  by First Story

In September 2021 marketing localization agency, Wordbank approached First Story with an idea: to raise donations for our Young Writers Programme through fun, collaborative activities with their team.

Category: News, Partnerships, Supporter Stories

Announcing: Rathbones Folio Prize Mentorships 2021/22

3 November 2021 //  by First Story

In its fifth year, the Rathbones Folio Prize Mentorships scheme pairs six talented First Story alumni with acclaimed writers from the Folio Academy, receiving a year of 1:1 mentoring support to further develop their writing craft.

Category: Alumni, East Midlands, News, Partnerships

WATCH: Rathbones Folio Prize Mentorships 2020-21 Showcase

27 October 2021 //  by First Story

Watch clips from this summer’s virtual showcase event, which celebrated new writing by five First Story alumni, chosen to be Rathbones Folio Prize Mentees in 2020/21.

Category: Alumni, East Midlands, News, Partnerships

Patrice Lawrence MBE announced as First Story Ambassador

14 October 2021 //  by First Story

Carnegie Medal nominee, Patrice Lawrence MBE has been announced as Ambassador for First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. Lawrence will champion First Story’s mission to promote the power and pleasure of creative writing to students in low-income communities. 

Category: News, Supporter Stories, Writers

Summer 2021 residential highlights: another digital success

6 October 2021 //  by First Story

The ongoing pandemic meant our annual summer residential course had to be delivered virtually for a second year — and we smashed it again!

Category: Alumni, News, Residential

‘First Story is life-changing’: Young Writers Programme in Alternative Provision

29 September 2021 //  by First Story

In 2021, First Story facilitated a sixteen-week Young Writers Programme at Haringey Learning Partnership: Commerce House, an alternative provision school and service in Wood Green, London, offering specialised teaching and support to students with complex needs. Commerce House marks the first in a series of programmes First Story will implement across Pupil Referral Units in London, the Midlands and the North.

Category: Alternative Provision, London, News

‘I am so grateful to have had this experience’

29 September 2021 //  by First Story

Michelle Burke is Lead Teacher at Haringey Learning Partnership: Commerce House, an alternative provision school and service in Wood Green, London offering specialised teaching and support to students with complex needs.

Category: Alternative Provision, London, Opinion, Outcomes and Impact, Teachers

National Writing Day 2021 #FilltheBox Challenge Highlights

22 July 2021 //  by First Story

The fifth annual National Writing Day took place on 23 June 2021, celebrating the power and pleasure of creative writing. This year’s celebrations took place both online and in schools, to ensure as many people as possible had the opportunity to put pen to paper.

Category: National Writing Day, News

Celebrating our very first set of ecopoetry competition winners!

7 July 2021 //  by First Story

From dark and ruminative monologues, metaphorical anthropomorphic studies to wistful odes of regret. Read the winners of our eco poetry competition.

Category: Competitions, News, North of England

Young Ambassadors programme pilot

7 July 2021 //  by First Story

When we launched the Young Ambassador’s Pilot programme in autumn term 2020 with our Paul Hamlyn Foundation schools.

Category: East Midlands, National Writing Day, North of England, Young Ambassadors

First Story Co-founder, Katie Waldegrave receives MBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

1 July 2021 //  by First Story

First Story are thrilled that one of our founders, Katie Waldegrave has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021.

Category: News, Outcomes and Impact

100-Word Story Competition winners 2021 – What a year!

7 June 2021 //  by First Story

This year, the entries we received seemed quite polarised in outlook. On the whole, the entries were much darker and more sinister than in previous years…

Category: Competitions, News, North of England

First Story calls for a fair literacy education for all

19 April 2021 //  by First Story

News about our call to Government for long-term sustained funding for literacy resources, interventions & experiences.

Category: News, Partnerships

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