I’ve recently returned from six days in Lviv, Ukraine’s cultural capital and one of Nottingham’s sister UNESCO Cities of Literature. Like Nottingham, Lviv is a young UNESCO City of Literature, rich in …
Multi-year grant from PHF to fund programme pilot
First Story is excited to embark on a three-year pilot project funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. We’ve received a More and Better grant of £244,000 from the foundation which specifically funds …
Reflecting on my first summer with First Story
Fittingly, my first day as First Story's new Chief Executive was also National Writing Day. And what an inspiring day it was. My first stop on 26th June was to the Museum of Migration in Lambeth, …
The First Story Summer Residential 2019
In twenty acres of steep woodland overlooking a Pennine valley sits Lumb Bank, an impressive eighteenth-century millowner's house that once belonged to Ted Hughes. For six days in July, Lumb Bank was …
Flashers’ Club reluctantly wraps up
Flashers’ Club is a quarterly 'flash fiction' event in Cheltenham where writers can read their original short fiction to an audience. It's a friendly, supportive and inclusive atmosphere, where all …
Write-Along Movies at Genesis Cinema turns two
If you live in London and you write, get yourself along to the iconic Genesis Cinema, for the city's only (known) 'Film Club and Writers' Hub'. Write-Along Movies is a regular event, created and …
Picket Line Poetry in Hull
To celebrate National Writing Day 2019, First Story East Yorkshire collaborated with local partners to put on a packed day of activities culminating in an original event, 'Picket Line Poetry'. …
Why learning to use your voice is powerful
It is a quite a coincidence that National Writing Day is my first day in the job as CEO of First Story, the lead organisation behind the campaign. When I tell people I will be working in an …
The Fault in Our Stories
Every anthology that we publish includes an introduction by the school's Writer-in-Residence. This one is an excellent example, written by Mashuda Snaith to introduces the 2019 anthology by students …
#Merky Books Collaboration
Curated by Stormzy, #Merky Books is a home for a new generation of voices. An imprint of Penguin Random House UK, #Merky is dedicated to publishing the best new fiction, non-fiction and poetry. It …
On Letters (Live)
Dear Reader, There is creativity in writing a letter. A proper letter is considered, crafted. Good letters tell us stories, using detail to draw us in. Great letters reveal their writer’s world and …
100-Word Story 2018 Winners
Now in its fifth year, our 100-Word Story competition is open to all First Story students, aged 11-18. Entries can be prose or poetry and can be on any theme. Judged by Vintage, the competition gives …
Creative Writing in Schools: Recommendations
In 2015 First Story received a Creative Writing in Schools grant of £600,000 from Arts Council England, alongside our fellow creative writing organisation, Paper Nations. We were thrilled …
Robert Webb will present our BBC Radio 4 Appeal
We are thrilled to announce that Robert Webb, actor and author of the wonderful, important, and number one bestselling book How Not To Be a Boy, will be presenting a charity appeal on behalf of First …
Imaru Lewis at YWF18
Imaru Lewis is a graduate of our intensive Writer-in-Residence programme from Highgate Wood school in London. We invited him back in 2018 to speak at First Story's Young Writers’ Festival. His …
YWF18 Highlights
In 2018 First Story's annual Young Writers’ Festival was held for the first time in partnership with the University of Cambridge. We welcomed over 330 students to the new venue, from schools across …
100-Word Story 2017 Winners
First Story and Vintage are delighted to announce the winner of the 2017-18 First Story 100-Word Story Competition. Armed with only 100 words, First Story students have come up with some stunning …
YWF17 Highlights
In 2017 we were excited to trial a special dual-site Young Writers' Festival. We returned to Oxford University's Lady Margaret Hall College, and also premiered at the University of Hull, as a part of …
First Story has partnered with the BBC
The BBC recently announced First Story and the University of Cambridge as the new partners for its short story awards, in a three-year collaboration starting in 2018. First Story will support the …
New research shows that arts projects can help narrow the achievement gap
New research, funded by Arts Council England’s Creative Writing in Schools Strategic Fund, shows that arts projects can help reduce the gap in academic achievement between rich and poor …
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall celebrates her 70th birthday in style
Literacy-focused charities and organisations, including us, have celebrated Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall’s upcoming 70th birthday by giving 70 primary schools across the UK a set of 70 …
Make your voice heard as a First Story Ambassador
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 …
The Folio Academy Mentorship Scheme needs you
How does a one-year mentorship with an acclaimed author from the Folio Academy sound? They’ll offer you one-to-one guidance and advice on a writing project. Learn from a creative writing master. Get …
The First Story Residential Anthology 2016
The First Story Residential Anthology 2016 has arrived! And it’s crammed full of the thoughts and voices of forty-seven students inspired by five glorious days of writing. For each student, the …
