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Everyone has a unique voice, a story to tell, and a right to be heard.
First Story nurtures diverse young voices, not always heard. Hundreds of young people in low-income communities from Hounslow to Hull are transformed each year by participation in our Young Writers Programme, which boosts creativity, confidence and writing ability, as well as developing invaluable life skills, cultural capital and aspiration.
First Story offers young people something else. It helps them find a voice. Creative writing can change people’s lives: I’ve seen it happen. It’s more than learning a skill. It’s about learning that you, your family, your culture and your view of the world are rich and interesting and important.
Mark Haddon
How your support makes a difference
Talented First Story students have performed their work across BBC platforms and at major literary festivals including Lincoln Book Festival and Bradford Literature Festival. Our alumni have won or been shortlisted for the Foyles Young Poets of the Year Award, the John Betjeman Prize, the Muslim Young Writers’ Award, the Wicked Young Writers’ Award and the Christopher Tower Poetry Prize. Read some of our alumni stories, below.
Tilly’s Story
Tilly completed the First Story Young Writers Programme at Landau Forte College Derby. They took part in the virtual Young Writers Residential in 2020. In 2023/24 they were awarded a Folio Academy Mentorship and were mentored by Peter Hobbs. They represented First Story at the Fair Education Alliance’s 2024 Youth Summit.Read Tilly’s poem ‘Floor time’>
Sarah’s Story
Sarah completed the First Story Young Writers Programme at St Paul’s Way Trust School with Writer-in-Residence Cecilia Knapp 2021/22. She successfully applied for a place on the Young Writers Residential in 2022 at Arvon’s Lumb Bank site. In 2023/24, whilst studying at St Paul’s Way Sixth Form, she was awarded a Folio Academy Mentorship and …
Ravena Guron’s Story
Ravena completed the First Story Young Writers Programme at Wembley High Technology College in 2013 with Writer-in-Residence Peter Hobbs. Having earned two degrees, in biochemistry and law Ravena is now a celebrated young adult fiction author, with three titles published by Faber & Faber. Her book The Thief of Farrowfell was shortlisted for Penguin’s WriteNow scheme. …
Danny’s Story
Danny completed the First Story Young Writers Programme at Nottingham Academy in 2018. In 2021, he suffered a traumatic brain injury and used his writing skills to help in his recovery. In 2024, he combined these skills with his experience as a young carer to lead a Nottingham Poetry Festival featured project, working with young …
Safaa’s Story
Safaa Sobri is a student at Co-op Academy Grange in Bradford where she worked with Writers-in-Residence Dan Ingram Brown and Sairish Hussain. Safaa was selected to attend First Story’s Summer Residential in 2022, attending the week long course at Arvon’s Lumb Bank in West Yorkshire. She plans to go to university in the future and …
Lily’s Story
Lily completed the First Story Young Writers Programme at The Dukeries Academy in 2022. Since then she has attended the Summer Residential and was awarded a place on our Folio Mentoring scheme. She was mentored by Diana Evans on developing her poetry and a short novel. She has recently taken a place at Oxford Brookes …
Khaya’s Story
Since completing our Young Writers Programme at Nottingham Academy in 2014, Khaya has created Femme Fatale Gals, an annual magazine and self-empowerment platform for girls and women. She has worked with creative organisations across the region to deliver writing and wellbeing workshops for students, young people and adults. Khaya continues to write stories and songs, …
Daniella’s Story
Daniella, who attends Skinners Academy in London, took part in our 2021-22 Young Writers Programme. She then applied for and won a place on First Story’s summer residential at Arvon Lumb Bank. Daniella has since signed up for First Story’s Young Ambassadors programme and continues to get involved in organising creative writing activities in her …
Cheyenne’s Story
Whilst taking part in the Young Writers Programme at Hull College, Cheyenne entered First Story’s 100 Word Story competition, placing third nationally. After the programme, Cheyenne applied for and won a coveted place on the Rathbones Folio Mentorships scheme in the 2021/22 cohort. Read an extract of Cheyenne’s writing here >
Emily’s Story
Emily took part in the Young Writers Programme during the pandemic, as a sixth form student at Dukeries Academy in Nottingham. In July 2021 she secured one of 16 places on First Story’s summer (virtual) residential writing course. Afterwards she applied successfully to take part in the Rathbones Folio Mentorships scheme during 2021/22. Emily also …
Baran’s Story
After completing the Young Writers Programme during 2021 at Commerce House, a PRU in Haringey, North London, Baran received his GCSE results and enrolled at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London. Read Baran’s poem ‘Baran in Wood Green’ >
Habiba’s Story
Habiba studied English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Huddersfield, where she was Student Ambassador. In 2018 she was selected to attend Penguin Random House’s WriteNowLive event. Since graduating she has held roles at Vintage, Waterstones and the Bradford Literature Festival. Habiba is the Co-Founder of Fox and Windmill Books, an independent publishing …
