Progression opportunities for young people interested in writing and other creative careers. A chance for us to keep connected with our growing alumni network, leading on from our highly successful Young Writers Programme.
Our Young Creatives Programme supports First Story alumni and other young people to engage in opportunities to develop their skills, co-create new platforms to showcase their writing, and build their networks in the creative industries. We will also be supporting young people to become First Story trustees as part of the project.
Progression opportunities for First Story alumni include the Philip Pyke Memorial Prize, an annual award for poetry and prose open to all First Story Alumni aged 18+, and the Folio Academy Mentorships in partnership with The Writers’ Prize, through which talented young writers at Key Stage 5 benefit from working one-to-one with an acclaimed writer from The Folio Academy.
We have recently announced our first Young Creatives Collective and their project to create First Story’s first ever zine. You can read more about our Young Creatives Collective and their Zine call out below. Do contact us if you’ve any questions.
Young Creatives Zine: Submit to Inkling 2025
Submissions are currently open for our Young Creatives Zine, which will be curated and published by the Young Creatives Collective. You can read all about the opportunity in the zine Submission Guidelines. The submission deadline is 5pm on Monday 1 December 2025 and submissions are open to all current and previous members of First Story (aged 11-25). If you have any questions, please get in touch. The Submission Form is below:
Young Creatives Collective
We are excited to have recruited our very first Young Creatives Collective, ten enthusiastic young people from across England. All members had previously taken part in the Young Writers Programme and are passionate about helping us to amplify the voices of other young writers. Members will have opportunities to make new connections in the creative industries and support First Story events.
Alfie Wilson
Yorkshire
Alfie, who began the Young Writes Programme in 2019, believes that First Story gives young people the chance to have their voices heard whilst having the space to explore different subjects and themes in their work. Alfie hopes, through the Young Creatives Collective Project, to make a difference to young peoples’ lives, and encourage them to give creativity a go.
Daisy Windsor
Hertfordshire
Daisy began First Story in 2022 and has since attended several First Story events such as The Young Writers Festival, The Young Writers Residential and all alumni events. Daisy hopes, through the Young Creatives Collective Project, to widen a community in which young people feel empowered to share their voices.
Emily Freeman
Cambridgeshire
Lily Ritchie
East Midlands
Lily began First Story in 2021, coming from a town where creativity wasn’t valued. First Story inspired Lily to become a poet. Lily hopes, through the Young Creatives Collective Project, to encourage young people to get in touch with their creative side and explore different writers and literature.
Lizzy Cooper
Oxfordshire
Lizzy began First Story in 2011; she has since taken part in Residential and has volunteered at First Story Young Writers Festival in Cambridge, all of which has helped her confidence at public speaking grow. Lizzy hopes, through the Young Creatives Collective Project, to inspire self-confidence in young people and their writing.
Mariamah Davey
North West
Nidaa Raoof
East Midlands
Nidaa began First Story in 2019, continuing to participate in the workshops until sixth form. Formerly the Vice Chair of Nottingham City of Literature’s Youth Board, she now serves as an Events Officer for the Writing East Midlands Youth Board. Currently, Nidaa is studying Veterinary Medicine at Aberystwyth University.
Sam Wright
North West
Tilly Wiggins
East Midlands
Tilly began First Story in 2018, where their love for poetry and spoken word performance was discovered. They were the Youth Headliner at the Verve Poetry Festival and a Young Producer at the Derby Festival. Tilly hopes, through the Young Creatives Collective Project, to ensure that all young people feel that they have a space to be whoever they want to be in an open and safe environment.
Yusra Ali
London
Yusra began First Story in 2022. She has taken part in First Story’s Summer Residential and is now an editor for their college’s magazine. Yusra hopes, through the Young Creatives Collective Project, to help empower young people explore their identity, as she has done through hers.
In June 2025, the Young Creatives Collective attended a residential in Yorkshire to devise their project. Over a weekend of workshops, games, meals and team-building, the group made exciting plans together. You can read more about their time there on Alfie’s blog post.
The collective is collaborating on a zine that will be open to submissions from First Story students and alumni. The zine, entitled Inkling will explore the theme of new beginnings, and will platform prose, poetry and visual artwork to the wider creative community. We will share information soon about how to submit to the zine, so be sure to check back!
Contact
If you have questions about our Young Creatives Programme – including ideas for projects or ways to get involved – please contact Rose Condo, Young Creatives Manager on rose.condo@firststory.org.uk.
