Our annual Six Word Story competition is a challenge in concise storytelling. Inspired by the famous six word story attributed to Ernest Hemingway “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” we ask …
News
East Midlands Connect at Nottingham Trent University
On a brisk Tuesday morning in December, First Story young writers from across the East Midlands came together at Nottingham Trent University for our annual East Midlands Connect event — a day of …
Announcing: Folio Academy Mentorships 2025/26
We are now in the ninth year of our partnership with The Writers' Prize, through which talented First Story students benefit from working one-to-one with an acclaimed writer from The Folio …
Folio Academy Mentorships Showcase 2025
On Saturday 5 July, we celebrated the achievements of the 2024/25 Folio Academy Mentorship recipients at a showcase event hosted by the London Library. This was the eighth year of First …
London Connect 2025
In early July, First Story young writers from across London gathered at the University of Greenwich for our annual London Connect. Students from Aylward Academy, Commerce House, St Paul’s Way School …
Time Travel, Crime, and Creativity: An afternoon with Elly Griffiths at Bromley House Library
This July, the historic Bromley House Library in Nottingham opened its doors to a group of young writers from The Bulwell Academy for a unique creative writing workshop. Led by acclaimed crime …
Facilitate
Feedback from participants The programme blew me away – I learned so much, both from the facilitators and the other participants, and reframing facilitation as a 'part of creative practice' rather …
Tiny Poems Competition Winners 2024/25
We're excited to announce the winners of our first ever Tiny Poems Competition - for poems of five lines or fewer. Participation was high, with 231 young writers taking part. This year's judges …
London Voice Connect at UCL East
By Professor Teresa Cremin, the Open University What a fascinating morning I spent yesterday at First Story’s London Voice Connect! Mainly KS3 students attended from five London schools who’ve been …
Young Writers Festival North Highlights 2025
On 3 June 2025, First Story participants from Bradford, Manchester and Rochdale came together at Manchester Metropolitan University, to take part in our first ever Young Writers Festival North. Hosted …
Winners of the 2025 Philip Pyke Memorial Prize announced
Open to writers of poetry and prose who have completed our Young Writers Programme, the Prize is awarded in memory of Philip Pyke to support young writers as they continue their writing journey. …
Co-op Academy Grange visit The People Powered Press
To celebrate Bradford 2025, the current UK City of Culture, in a truly creative way, First Story Partner School Co-op Academy Grange teamed up with The People Powered Press – a letterpress and arts …
Young Writers Festival North
We're excited to be holding our first Young Writers Festival North in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University this summer. In celebration of the inaugural year, current partner schools in …
100 Word Story Competition Winners 2024/25
This year’s 100 Word Story Competition again demonstrated the talent amongst our young writers. 351 students from First Story partner schools wrote brilliant stories, taking on the challenge of …
Your Voice
An intensive KS3 programme to boost confidence and language skills in writing, discussion and sharing. Led by a professional writer, three in-school workshops will encourage students to …
Six Word Story Competition Winners 2024/25
Our annual Six Word Story competition is a challenge in concise storytelling. Inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s famous six word story “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” we ask our young …
First Story students appear live on Leeds radio station Chapel FM
First Story students from Co-op Academy Grange in Bradford were invited to read their writing live on Leeds' Chapel FM on Friday 6 December. Students had prepared pieces for the broadcast, with writer …
Sophie Hiscock announced as new CEO of First Story
Sophie Hiscock, currently Director of Communications and Impact at Oxford’s The Story Museum, has been announced as the new Chief Executive of First Story and will take over from Antonia Byatt who has …
First Story’s response to the Curriculum Review
Last week First Story submitted a response to the Government’s curriculum review. We welcome the chance to respond and wanted to share what we said. Enrichment programmes like First Story’s …
First Story Alumni Event at the London Library
We invited First Story Alumni to an in-person event at The London Library on 8 November. It was a chance for those who'd taken part in the Young Writers Programme to meet each other, and us, and take …
Fair Education Alliance Youth Summit 2024
By Tilly Wiggins, First Story Alumnus The 2024 Fair Education Youth Summit took place on Tuesday 29 October and brought together 200 young people passionate about reducing inequalities in …
Announcing: Folio Academy Mentorships 2024/25
We are now in the eighth year of our partnership with The Writers' Prize, through which talented First Story students benefit from working one-to-one with an acclaimed writer from The Folio …
Inua Ellams announced as First Story Ambassador
Award-winning poet, playwright and performer, Inua Ellams has been announced as an Ambassador for First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. He joins the celebrated …
First Story Young Writers Residential 2024
Each July, First Story takes a group of 16 students from across England on a week-long residential trip. Hosted by Arvon at their Hebden Bridge centre, it’s an opportunity for students to develop …
