Changing lives through writing
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 many people as possible had the opportunity to put pen to paper.
National Writing Day 2021 #FilltheBox Challenge HighlightsRead More
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 outstanding contribution to her community with an MBE. A former teacher, Katie founded First Story in 2008 alongside award-winning author, William Fiennes, with the aim to bring creative …
First Story Co-founder, Katie Waldegrave receives MBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours ListRead More
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 Education. We’re calling for long term, sustained funding for resources, interventions and experiences for all children and young people, helping them to build the …
First Story calls for a fair literacy education for allRead More
Cecilia Knapp and Christina Lewis have produced a series of creative-writing resources for International Women’s Day that can be used in the classroom and beyond. Read their powerful forewords.
First Story Writers Create New Resources for International Women’s DayRead More
Our annual Six Word Story competition is open to all First Story participating schools. Entry closed in late December. From a shortlist of excellent stories, the editors at Penguin Random House picked this year’s winner.
Six Word Story 2020 shortlist and winners announcedRead More
Earlier this month, First Story in the East Midlands trialled a new way of offering CPD to our teachers, with a free event held online on a Saturday, led by the celebrated teacher and writer, Kate Clanchy.
Kate Clanchy supports our CPD provision for teachersRead More
Watch exclusive clips from this summer’s virtual showcase event, which celebrated new writing by five First Story alumni, chosen to be Rathbones Folio Prize Mentees in 2019/20.
WATCH: Rathbones Folio Prize Mentorships 2019/20 ShowcaseRead More
First Story hasn’t stopped working through the pandemic. Adapted models of our Young Writers Programme are running during autumn term 2020/21 in partner schools across England.
How we are navigating COVID-19 to keep supporting young peopleRead More
Five bursary places available to study for a University of Cambridge PGCert in Teaching Creative Writing at its Institute of Continuing Education
Our new Young Ambassadors Programme is an exciting supported volunteering opportunity for alumni keen to continue their engagement with creative writing. It puts young people at the heart of promoting creative writing within their schools and local communities.
In its fourth year, the Rathbones Folio Prize Mentorships scheme pairs four talented First Story alumni with acclaimed writers from the Folio Academy, receiving a year of 1:1 mentoring support to further develop their writing craft.
Announcing: Rathbones Folio Prize Mentorships 2020/21Read More
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, this summer, our annual residential programme took place virtually. With participants connecting entirely online, we managed to maintain almost all of the key elements that make this project so special and impactful.
