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 …
‘I am so grateful to have had this experience’
Michelle Burke is a First Story Lead Teacher at Haringey Learning Partnership: Commerce House, an alternative provision school and service in Wood Green, London offering specialised teaching and …
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 …
Celebrating our very first set of ecopoetry competition winners!
What a year it’s been! A year more turbulent than ever with the effects of a global pandemic creating an acute social, political and economic crisis more pressing than any other in living memory for …
Young Ambassadors programme pilot
We announced First Story's new Young Ambassadors programme with much excitement in autumn 2020. At that time, we had no idea what lay ahead in terms of the impacts of the pandemic; contending with …
First Story Co-founder, Katie Waldegrave receives MBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours List
First Story are thrilled that one of our founders, Katie Waldegrave has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021. Alongside 1,000 individuals, Katie has been honoured for her …
100-Word Story Competition winners 2021 – What a year!
It’s almost unimaginable to think back to last year’s 100-Word Story Competition, the deadline for which closed just before the first ever lockdown. How things have changed since! How our stories have …
First Story calls for a fair literacy education for all
Together with our partner charities Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, Driver Youth Trust and Fair Education Alliance, we’ve written to The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP, Secretary of State for …
First Story Writers Create New Resources for International Women’s Day
To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March, we commissioned two of our writers to produce original creative writing-resources for use by other First Story Writers-in-Residence and by teachers …
Six Word Story 2020 shortlist and winners announced
This year’s Six Word Story Competition is a real reflection of life during the pandemic. Some of the stories are funny and whacky; some of the stories (in fact, maybe most) are quite dark – perhaps …
Kate Clanchy supports our CPD provision for teachers
Developing the creative writing skills and confidence of teachers is integral to First Story's mission. For our work to have a lasting impact, the culture of creative writing in schools needs to …
WATCH: Rathbones Folio Prize Mentorships 2019/20 Showcase
Now in its fourth year, our exclusive partnership with the Rathbones Folio Prize offers a unique opportunity for five talented First Story alumni to be mentored for an academic year by five acclaimed …
‘First Story is a project of hope’
Award-winning novelist and long-serving First Story Writer-in-Residence, Anthony Cartwright reflects on what he's learned as a writer and practitioner after eight years of delivering our programme …
How we are navigating COVID-19 to keep supporting young people
First Story hasn't stopped working through the pandemic. This autumn term, new programmes are running in partnership with schools in London, East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside, where we are …
FIVE tuition fee bursaries on offer from University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education
This is the third year that First Story will be collaborating with the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education to help educators share the power of creative writing. Up to five …
New First Story Young Ambassadors Programme
Young writers who complete our flagship programme constantly tell us that they enjoyed it so much, they just want to keep going. We are keen to develop new pathways for our alumni to continue creative …
Announcing: Rathbones Folio Prize Mentorships 2020/21
This is the fourth year of our partnership with the prestigious Rathbones Folio Prize, through which four talented First Story students benefit from working one-to-one with an acclaimed writer from …
Summer 2020 Virtual Residential
Our annual summer residential programme provides an incredible opportunity for a small number of First Story participants who've shown great promise during the academic year, to further develop their …
Post-pandemic, how could literacy education change?
First Story recently teamed up with the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), Drivers Youth Trust (DYT), and the Fair Education Alliance (FEA), to organise a virtual roundtable discussion …
First Story writers create new BHM resources
In preparation to celebrate Black History Month this October, we recently commissioned three Black writers in our network to produce original creative writing resources exploring key themes, for use …
Saint Gabriel’s College ’20:20 Vision’ anthology launch
Earlier this month, we were invited to St. Gabriel's College in South London, for a special socially-distanced event to celebrate publication of their new First Story anthology, 20:20 Vision. After …
Creative Writing and Social and Emotional Learning
After reading the National Literacy Trust's tenth annual literacy survey, published earlier this month, First Story's programme manager for the East Midlands, Jess Tickell, reflects on the …
National Writing Day 2020 #247Challenge Highlights
The fourth annual National Writing Day took place on 24 June 2020. In the context of a global pandemic, activities necessarily shifted online. We framed the day around a mass participation creative …
Rathbones Folio Mentorships 2020-21 Open
Applications are open now for the 2020/21 Rathbones Folio Mentorships programme beginning this September. Our exclusive partnership with the Rathbones Folio Prize offers a unique opportunity for …
