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First Story

Creative writing charity for young people

  • Bookshop
  • News
  • Login
  • Donate
  • Programmes
    • Young Writers Programme
    • Connect events
    • Young Writers Festival
    • Young Ambassadors
    • Summer residential
    • Folio mentorships
    • National Writing Day
  • Writers
    • Our ambassadors
    • Who we work with
    • Becoming a First Story writer
  • Schools
    • Partner schools HUB
    • Resources for partner schools
    • Free Festival Toolkit
    • Free writing resources
    • BBC Teach x First Story resources
    • Free copyright education resources
    • Becoming a First Story partner school
  • Locations
    • North of England
    • East Midlands
    • Greater London
  • About
    • About us
    • Impact Report 2021/22
    • Impact stories
    • Young writers showcase
    • Staff and trustees
    • Vacancies
  • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Make a donation
    • Newsletter sign-up

News

Six Word Stories auction raises over £16,000

14 November 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: 15th birthday, News

‘First Story is 15’ party highlights

10 November 2023 //  by First Story

…

Category: 15th birthday, News

Announcing: Folio Prize Mentorships 2023/24

9 November 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: Alumni, East Midlands, London, News, North of England, Partnerships

Why six words?

23 October 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: 15th birthday, Competitions, News

All of life in six words

16 October 2023 //  by Antonia Byatt

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 …

Category: 15th birthday, News

Six Word Stories auction to raise vital funds for First Story

9 October 2023 //  by 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 …

Category: News

Summer Residential 2023 highlights

5 October 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: News, Residential

It All Started in the Library at The Bulwell Academy

28 September 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: East Midlands, News, Teachers

Summer 2023 anthology launch events

8 August 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: Anthologies, News

Huddersfield Connect 2023

25 July 2023 //  by Annette Brook

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 …

Category: News, North of England

London Connect 2023

25 July 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: London, News

Folio mentorships 2023 showcase

18 July 2023 //  by Annette Brook

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 …

Category: Alumni, East Midlands, London, News, North of England, Partnerships

Her Majesty The Queen celebrates First Story’s 15th birthday

12 July 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: 15th birthday, News

Eco-poetry competition winners 2023

21 June 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: Competitions, News

School Writing Trail with Manchester City of Literature

20 June 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: News, North of England, Partnerships

100 Word Story Competition Winners 2023

9 May 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: Competitions, News

Manchester Connect event

28 April 2023 //  by First Story

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, …

Category: News, North of England

15th birthday ‘tombola poem’

24 April 2023 //  by First Story

…

Category: 15th birthday, News, Young Writers Festival

Eco-poetry Competition now open for 2023

18 April 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: Competitions, News

First Story bursary opportunities announced for PGCert at University of Cambridge

11 April 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: News, Partnerships, Teachers

Inspiring First Story students to write about a positive future

22 March 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: News

Working with First Story: a librarian’s perspective

14 March 2023 //  by First Story

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 …

Category: News, North of England, Writers

First Story is 15

27 February 2023 //  by Antonia Byatt

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 …

Category: 15th birthday, News

Six Word Story 2022 winner, national finalists and special mentions announced

24 January 2023 //  by First Story

Our first competition of the academic year, the Six Word Story competition is a challenge in concise storytelling. Inspired by Ernest Hemingway's famous six word story "For sale: baby shoes, never …

Category: Competitions, East Midlands, News

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