Thirteen young writers from First Story partner schools across England came together for a week in July at Arvon’s Lumb Bank centre in rural West Yorkshire.
Folio mentorships 2022 showcase
In July the Rathbones Folio Mentorships 2021/22 cohort performed their writing at the London Library for an audience of mentors, family and friends.
Eco-poetry competition winners 2022
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.
Pilot of First Story’s new CPD course for teachers, ‘Think Like a Writer’
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 …
Young Writers Festival 2022 highlights
On 29 March 2022, some 300 young writers travelled to the University of Cambridge for First Story’s annual Young Writers Festival, headlined by celebrated author Patrice Lawrence MBE.
100 Word Story Competition Winners 2022
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!
First Story partners with Goldsmiths University to further the careers of emerging young writers
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.
Tracy Chevalier announced as First Story Ambassador
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.
First Story Writer-in-Residence, Cecilia Knapp wins Ruth Rendell Award
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.
Six Word Story 2021 shortlist and winners announced
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.
FIVE First Story bursaries for PGCert at University of Cambridge
Five bursary places available to study for a University of Cambridge PGCert in Teaching Creative Writing at its Institute of Continuing Education.
Patrice Lawrence MBE announced as First Story Ambassador
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.
Young writers exploring higher education through Connect events
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.
Young Writers Festival 2021 Highlights
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.
Passing the virtual baton: corporate fundraising success
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.
Announcing: Rathbones Folio Prize Mentorships 2021/22
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.
WATCH: Rathbones Folio Prize Mentorships 2020-21 Showcase
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.
Patrice Lawrence MBE announced as First Story Ambassador
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.
Summer 2021 residential highlights: another digital success
The ongoing pandemic meant our annual summer residential course had to be delivered virtually for a second year — and we smashed it again!
‘First Story is life-changing’: Young Writers Programme in Alternative Provision
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.
‘I am so grateful to have had this experience’
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.
National Writing Day 2021 #FilltheBox Challenge Highlights
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.
Celebrating our very first set of ecopoetry competition winners!
From dark and ruminative monologues, metaphorical anthropomorphic studies to wistful odes of regret. Read the winners of our eco poetry competition.
Young Ambassadors programme pilot
When we launched the Young Ambassador’s Pilot programme in autumn term 2020 with our Paul Hamlyn Foundation schools.
