First Story

Founded in 2008, First Story works with young people living in areas of economic disadvantage across the UK. The organisation makes creative writing workshops available to students in non-selective state secondary schools in London, the East Midlands, as well as in Yorkshire and Humber. The charity deploys talented authors to facilitate the workshops and works closely with teachers and school staff to identify the student participants. Selected young people are in Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9), the transitional and transformative ages between 12 and 15 years-old; the vast majority are eligible for Pupil Premium, have low prior attainment and/or speak English as an additional language. First Story pairs a high standard of literary excellence with encouraging literacy amongst the UK’s disadvantaged populations.