Connect events
Connect events are included in our offer for Young Writers Programme cohorts. As region-specific provision, these events encourage participants to connect with each other as a community of young writers, as well as strengthening connections to local universities and cultural institutions where events take place.
Our 2025 Connect events will take place at UCL East and the University of Greenwich. Below, you can see highlights of our 2024 Connect events at the University of Greenwich, University of Lincoln, and Manchester Metropolitan University.
The Connect event developed ambitious aspirations for our students and allowed them to feel mature and professional in a different environment to at school.
lead teacher, 2022
Why attend?
Connect events grow the confidence of young writers, bringing together current Young Writers Programme participants from schools within the same region for a day of workshops, talks and creativity. Attending a Connect event helps young writers’ sense of being part of a wider creative writing community. Through venue tours and informative talks, participants learn more about creative career pathways and academic progression routes, helping them feel more confident about future choices.
You might not think Ancient Egypt and present-day south London would have much in common, but a visit to University College London gave students a reason to pause and think about this. Love, hope, fear, greed, violence, anger, laughter, dreams, ambition… The Ancient Egyptian artefacts held at the Petrie Museum at UCL demonstrate all the strong emotions and motivations of human society throughout history. That realisation, that we humans have the same drives and behaviour across time and space, whether among the pyramids of the Egyptian desert or the streets of Lewisham today, is an important one, and is something students embraced as a group for their anthology.
ANTHONY CARTWRIGHT, WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE
What to expect
The First Story programme team organise events in their respective regions, collaborating with prestigious local partners to deliver a unique day of inspiring activities for nearby First Story groups. Guest authors facilitate on site writing workshops, drawing inspiration from the venue, and participants are encouraged to engage with each other and the location. At the end of the day, a showcase session helps students develop confidence in public speaking and performance.
I really enjoyed the event. It was interesting and informative when the authors told us about their experiences. I also liked the tour of the university and would definitely recommend it to any aspiring writers.
participant at east midlands connect
How to take part
Connect events are included in our provision for current First Story groups — lead teachers just need to book places for their students (up to 20 per school) and arrange transport to the venue.
Connect events usually take place during the autumn or summer term. Your local First Story Programme Manager will send you information on the date and location of the next one in your region — look out for an email, or get in touch to find out more.
