The Folio Academy Mentorship scheme gives talented First Story alumni the opportunity to be mentored for one year by experienced, acclaimed writers from the Folio Academy.
On 13 July our 2023/24 cohort gathered at the historic London Library to read new work they had produced through the scheme, and celebrate their achievement alongside their mentors, family and friends.
About the scheme
The mentorships scheme launched in 2017, as a high quality progression route exclusively for First Story participants who complete our intensive Young Writers Programme. Our partnership with Folio is an opportunity for talented young writers to pursue their creative writing ambitions, develop their craft and strengthen their voice, with one-to-one support from an established writer.
Over the course of an academic year, each pairing corresponds regularly and mentees benefit from personalised feedback and support, meeting online and in-person. At the end of a year working together, the showcase event provides an opportunity for participants to perform their work publicly. Mentees are also gifted book bundles, containing titles specially selected by their mentors, plus a free Arvon Masterclass to further develop their writing craft.
This mentorship is such an incredible opportunity… Writers are often the best support for other writers.
Antonia Byatt, CEO, First Story
Our 2023/24 pairings
Daniella, who was a student at Skinners’ Academy when she took part in the Young Writers Programme. She was mentored by poet, writer and artist Victoria Adukwei Bulley whose debut collection Quiet (Faber, 2022) won the Rathbones Folio Prize for Poetry and the John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize and was shortlisted for the T. S. Eliot Prize.
I think I have grown and changed to write maturely with purpose.
Daniella, 2023/24 Mentor
Sarah completed the Young Writers Programme at St Paul’s Way Trust School and is now a student at St Paul’s Way Sixth Form. Her mentor was novelist Samantha Harvey whose most recent novel Orbital (Vintage, 2024) is longlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize.
The mentorship was amazing because I got to meet and bond with a really brilliant author. The staff behind the scenes did an incredible job of matching students to their mentors — at the showcase I found that each mentee was like their mentor! That’s a positive thing because it meant we were all able to connect really well with our mentors. Personally, it made me less shy about myself so I could have confidence to expand things I wrote about.
Sarah, 2023/24 Mentee
Matilda from Landau Forte College Derby was mentored by author Peter Hobbs whose work has won a Betty Trask Award, and been shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the John Lewellyn Rhys Prize and the Whitbread First Novel Award.
Working with a writer one to one is an amazing experience, having designated time to write and read and share my work with someone who really knows what their talking about is really wonderful. It’s just an incredible opportunity and I wish everyone who likes writing could have it like I did.
Matilda, 2023/24 Mentee
Ash who completed the Young Writers Programme at Co-op Academy Grange was mentored by the novelist Sunjeev Sahota whose novel, China Room, (Harvill Secker, 2021) was longlisted for the Booker Prize.
I enjoyed being able to freely write what I wanted whilst having help to perfect my work.
Ash, 2023/24 Mentee
Read more about our partnership with Folio here. Photos by Holly Revell.
London Connect 2024
