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 by First Story writer David Scott, the day spread creativity, inspiration and warmth throughout the Grosvenor East Building in the heart of Manchester’s university district.
Headlined by Danielle Jawando
Award winning YA writer and fellow Mancunian, Danielle Jawando headlined the day. Sharing her inspiring journey into writing, reading from her bold novel, When Our Worlds Collided and staying around to sign books and chat more to our young writers over lunch.
Writing workshops
Festival participants took part in two workshops that not only deepened their craft and skill, but also developed their performance skills ready for the afternoon showcase. Split across a range of seminar rooms across the building, students got a taste of university life as they worked on their words whilst overlooking the bustling streets of Manchester.
Lunchtime Activities
At lunchtime participants were given tours of MMU campus by Student Ambassadors, alongside visiting our vibrant expo that not only hosted our famous bookstall and festival tombola but also invited local youth led organisations to come and share their offer with our enthusiastic young writers. Partners included Young Identity, Zuntold, Youth Leads and Harper North,alongside our own Rose Condo, Young Creative Manager, signing up new students to our Young Creatives Collective and finding out what else our young writers want to see and do as part of our Young Writers Programme in their school.
Titles for the lunchtime bookstall were generously donated by Bloomsbury, Scholastic, Simon and Schuster, Usbourne and World of Books.
Young Writers showcase
The festival culminated with everyone returning to the theatre space for a showcase of the day’s writing. Students took to the mic and performed their work. We heard so many inspiring, funny, original pieces! Rounding off our showcase, host David Scott shared the day’s original poem created by all the young writers taken from the lunchtime tombola poem, and what poem read in Manchester would be complete without mentioning the rain!
Festival Poem
The day concluded with host David Scott reading out the collaborative Festival Poem that had been created by Festival attendees.
Created via a fun tombola game at the lunchtime expo and written on a very, very long roll of paper – the final couplet was a fitting way to conclude the day:
The Caramel Sun brought in the afternoon
We unleash Our inner lions and roared
A thirst for knowledge, my one desire,
The more I have the more I want
There are no ceilings to our words
If inspiration comes never let it gofrom the Young Writers Festival North collaborative poem
Participants feedback
100%
of teachers would recommend taking part in Young Writers Festival North to other schools.
88%
of participants now understand more about the career of a writer after attending.
95%
of participants would recommend taking part in the Young Writers Festival North to other students.
86%
of participants agreed that after attending Young Writers Festival North they are more confident about sharing and talking about their work with others.
It was really nice to have the chance to write with other young writers.
Festival Participant
I liked how I got to face my anxiety and share my ideas.
Festival Participant
I enjoyed watching people’s minds come up with beautiful words.
Festival Participant
Students are encouraged to take risks and are shown that their voices have value.
Teacher attending YWFN
The activities built confidence for even the quietest of pupils, motivating and encouraging creative writing.
Teacher attending YWFN
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