As part of activities during 2023 to celebrate First Story's milestone 15th birthday, we launched a unique literary auction on 9 October, Six Word Stories. Featuring handwritten, signed and framed …
News archive
‘First Story is 15’ party highlights
…
Announcing: Folio Prize Mentorships 2023/24
We are now in the seventh year of our partnership with the prestigious Folio Prize, through which talented First Story students benefit from working one-to-one with an acclaimed writer from the Folio …
Why six words?
First Story recently challenged best-selling and prize-winning authors, including Michael Morpurgo, Neil Gaiman, Elif Shafak, our Ambassador, Tracy Chevalier and many others, to pen original six-word …
All of life in six words
My friend said, if your young writers can do it, then why wouldn’t you ask professionals? Like all good things, it sounds easier than it is. Writing a six word story is actually a pretty …
Six Word Stories auction to raise vital funds for First Story
A collection of acclaimed and best-selling authors have written original six word stories to be auctioned in aid of First Story. The unique literary auction Six Word Stories runs online from 9 October …
Summer Residential 2023 highlights
The Summer Residential is an opportunity for students who have shown great potential during the First Story Young Writers Programme to develop their confidence, creativity and writing skills in an …
It All Started in the Library at The Bulwell Academy
Joel Hunt, school librarian at The Bulwell Academy in Nottingham, has come to the end of his first year as the school's lead for the First Story Young Writers Programme. Working with First Story …
Writers-in-Residence Skills Share Day 2023
On Tuesday 5th September, 25 First Story writers attended our annual Skills Share Day at our Webber Street office in London. We were pleased to welcome writers new to First Story including Freddie …
Summer 2023 anthology launch events
All First Story groups work collaboratively towards publication of a printed anthology. Empowered with agency throughout the process, participants choose which pieces to include — learning how to …
Huddersfield Connect 2023
35 students from three schools took part in our Yorkshire Connect event at the University of Huddersfield in July 2023. Students from Co-op Academy Grange, Titus Salt School and Carlton Keighley …
London Connect 2023
120 students – Year 7 to Year 12 – from eight London schools took part in our Connect event at the University of Greenwich in June 2023. Connect events are included in our offer for Young …
Folio mentorships 2023 showcase
The Rathbones Folio Prize Mentorships scheme gives talented First Story alumni the opportunity to be mentored for one year by experienced, acclaimed writers from the Folio Academy. On 15 July our …
Her Majesty The Queen celebrates First Story’s 15th birthday
Her Majesty, who became First Story’s Patron in 2011, held a reception at Clarence House on 11 July to celebrate 15 years of our work empowering young people with the confidence and skills to tell …
Eco-poetry competition winners 2023
This year's eco-poetry competition saw thought-provoking entries from students in First Story partner schools across England. Young writers' concern about the environment was highlighted in their …
School Writing Trail with Manchester City of Literature
Nineteen students from the six local schools who took part in Manchester Connect event in April 2023 featured in Manchester UNESCO City of Literature's first Schools' Writing Trail in June …
100 Word Story Competition Winners 2023
Over 550 students at First Story partner schools entered this year's 100 Word Story Competition and took on the challenge of writing a captivating story in only 100 words. Competition sponsors Vintage …
Manchester Connect event
Ninety five students from six local schools took part in our first Manchester Connect event in April 2023. In collaboration with the Centre for New Writing at the University of Manchester, …
15th birthday ‘tombola poem’
…
Eco-poetry Competition now open for 2023
Could your students write a winning poem about the natural world? Our Eco-poetry Competition is now open to all students at First Story partner schools. Your Writer-in-Residence can help shortlist …
First Story bursary opportunities announced for PGCert at University of Cambridge
For the fifth year running, First Story are collaborating with the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education to offer a bursary opportunity for those applying for the Postgraduate …
Inspiring First Story students to write about a positive future
In February this year, First Story invited Y9 students to an Authors Day, as part of a joint initiative with Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature (NUCoL) and the University of Nottingham’s Manuscripts …
Working with First Story: a librarian’s perspective
Dianne Blashill is the School Librarian at Co-op Academy Grange, and she has worked with First Story as School Lead for the Young Writers Programme for the last six years after several previous years …
First Story is 15
We've grown up from the seed of an inspirational idea to an established charity championing creativity through a sustained programme for young people across England. Over fifteen years so many young …
