We’re looking for 15 First Story graduates to shape what we do – how we can make First Story a better experience and how we can shout about what we do. This is a great opportunity to have your voice heard and to get some great experience for your CV too!
Join our Advisory Panel as a First Story Ambassador, and give just a few hours of your time over the course of a year to make a big contribution. Make sure the voices of First Story students are heard and help guide our work. You’ll get to see how a national charity works and feel the pride of helping us grow to be bigger and better.
What’s in it for me?
Be the voice of First Story – represent First Story students across the country to tell us what you think, shout about First Story to the world, and help First Story reach more students every day.
Great experience – gain valuable experience working with a national charity, to inform your future and support your CV or UCAS applications.
Access other opportunities – help us establish what we should offer to our alumni, and apply for opportunities including our Folio Mentorship Scheme.
Giving back – if you loved your First Story experience, you can help other students like you benefit from our programme too.
What do I have to do?
Commit – be part of the Alumni Advisory Panel for one year, entailing one meeting at the start of the year at our Young Writers’ Festival on Tuesday 19th September, and a one-hour skype or call each term (three in total per year).
Represent – we may ask you to represent First Story at events, on film or through your writing – only if you feel comfortable, of course!
Get creative – think of ideas for how we might benefit alumni, how we might raise money for First Story as a charity, and anything else you want to throw into the mix.
Who can apply?
Anyone who has been a First Story student in the past at any of our schools across the UK, who is in year 10 or above.
We welcome applications from those who have left school, who are currently attending university or who have left university, as well as those still at school.
How do I get involved?
Please send us a brief 250-word statement of interest. Tell us:
Why you want to be a First Story Ambassador
What being part of First Story has meant to you
Confirm whether you are able to attend the Young Writers’ Festival on Tuesday 19th September in Oxford (travel expenses covered)
The name of your school and your age (you must be at least year 10 or above)
Send this to info@firststory.org.uk by Monday 11th August.
We’ll review all applications and let you know whether you have been selected by end of July.
Our Student Trustee, Mayowa Sofekun, has wrriten you a welcome note so you can understand a bit more about what it means to be a First Story Ambassador. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
My name is Mayowa and I am a First Story Alumna. I took part in the programme with writers Aminatta Forna and Marie Phillips between 2008-10 and have since gone on to study English Literature at university. I couldn’t quite let First Story go and so for the past few years I have been part of the Board as a Student Trustee. First Story is a charity and as a Trustee, my role is to help support our goal to give as many young people as possible the opportunity to develop their confidence and find their voices through writing.
It has been wonderful to see First Story grow from one school in London to over 70 across the whole country as a result of the amazing team and supporters of First Story. I have benefited not only from doing the First Story workshops, but from other opportunities including writing residentials, work experience placements, and serving as a Trustee of course!
We want to support more of our alumni as you leave school, finish university and enter the world of work, which is why I am writing to you today. I hope you can help us by bringing your creative ideas to First Story and telling us what you think the programme should be and what you want and need as a First Story Ambassador!
Best wishes,
Mayowa
The Folio Academy Mentorship Scheme needs you
