SAVE THE DATE! National Writing Day 2026 is on Wednesday 24 June and everyone is invited to join in. Sign up to our mailing list by 1 June to get advance info on this year’s writing activity, created by Patrice Lawrence and share on the day using #NationalWritingDay. mailchi.mp/firststory/n...

Our @biggive.bsky.social #ArtsForImpact campaign is NOW LIVE! All donations to our Big Give page from 17-24 March are doubled - for double the impact! Donate and help us publish a new generation of writers, boost their confidence, wellbeing and resilience. donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

We're seeking a Programme and Partnerships Manager (Yorkshire), £28-30K, 0.6 FTE. Home based with travel to schools and partners across Yorkshire (primarily to West Yorkshire and to Humberside). Closes: 5pm, Monday 16 February. Full details: firststory.org.uk/vacancies/

Congrats to our Six Word Story winners 2026. 1st Amal, St Saviour's & St Olave’s School 'Maze is glass, somehow I’m lost.' 2nd Praise, Co-op Academy Grange 'Let him cook, whole house burnt.' 3rd Sara, Holland Park School 'Judged cover. Book swallowed me whole.' firststory.org.uk/six-word-sto...

** Deadline alert: 31 Jan 26 ** Link: newwriters.org.uk/flash-fictio... - Top prize: £1,100 - 10% of entry proceeds donated to charity (funzi.org.uk and @firststory.bsky.social) - 300 words Send us your brilliant flash fiction! #flashfictioncompetition #flashfictioncontent #writingcompetition

We're seeking an Editorial Assistant Intern. The internship will follow our 2026 anthology publishing from planning to delivery of printed copies. - £5,873 FTC (Mar-Jul 26) at National Living Wage - Home based, pref for location in North of England - Closes: 2 Feb 2026 firststory.org.uk/vacancies/

Our Impact Report 24/25 is now live! It’s a chance to reflect on the past year and celebrate our work. Read the full report on our website: firststory.org.uk/download/fir... A big THANK YOU to our schools, writers, partners, volunteers and funders for supporting our transformative programmes.

Excited to announce our 2026 festival headliners. Young Writers Festival North: acclaimed author & illustrator Lize Meddings @sadghostclub.bsky.social. 2 March, Lowry. Young Writers Festival Cambridge: Carnegie nominated author @amdassu.bsky.social. 21 April. firststory.org.uk/ywf26-regist...

The New Writers Flash Fiction Competition 2026 is open to entries. newwriters.org.uk/flash-fictio... Top prize: £1,100. Deadline: 31st Jan 2026 10% of proceeds donated to charity, split between @firststory.bsky.social and the Funzi & Bodo Trust #writingcompetition #flashfiction

We are recruiting for 2 interns: PROGRAMME & PARTNERSHIPS INTERN National Living Wage/London Living Wage Part time FTC Nov 25-Jan 26 Manchester or London ASSISTANT FESTIVAL PRODUCER INTERN £3,420 FTC at National Living Wage 40 days (part time) Dec 25–Apr 26 Manchester firststory.org.uk/vacancies/

We're seeking a Finance and Operations Manager (£40-42K, 0.6 FTE) to lead on all aspects of financial planning, management and reporting to First Story and to ensure that the finance function is carried out effectively and efficiently. Closes: 5pm, 8 September 2025. firststory.org.uk/vacancies/

Winners of our new Tiny Poems Competition: 1st Sustenance - Sophie, Holland Park School 2nd Maybe Cheetahs...' - Braydon, Titus Salt School 3rd Matchsticks - Sara Alexandra, Holland Park School Thanks to judges Jay Bhadricha, John McAuliffe & Tallulah Howarth. firststory.org.uk/tiny-poems-c...

Happy National Writing Day! Today is a day dedicated to celebrating the power of writing creatively ✍️ This year's theme is #ShareYourVoice, check out @firststory.bsky.social for great resources to get people started with writing: firststory.org.uk/writeday/ #NationalWritingDay

Happy National Writing Day 2025! Grab your pens, pencils or laptops and celebrate this year’s theme #ShareYourVoice! We've commissioned award-winning YA author Dean Atta to create a writing activity. Head over to our Insta page to take part: www.instagram.com/firststory_uk/ #NationalWritingDay

📢The Philip Pyke Memorial Prize 2025 winners: 1ST Lewis Buxton for ‘Naming Ceremony’. 2ND Maria Clark for ‘Heartless’. 3RD Hannah Idil for ‘there are fewer joys than water to drink’. HIGHLY COMMENDED Priya Gill for ‘House of Suits’. Read more: firststory.org.uk/winners-of-t...

We’re at our first Young Writers Festival North at Manchester Metropolitan University welcoming students from across Greater Manchester and Yorkshire for a fun packed day of creativity. 💫

ONE WEEK LEFT TO APPLY FOR THESE TWO ROLES⬇️ Full details: firststory.org.uk/vacancies/ Both close: Tuesday 27 May.

We are recruiting: Programmes and Partnerships Manager London £29-30K, (FT/0.8) - to ensure the programme is delivered at a high level to existing and new schools. Partnerships Officer £27-28K (PT, 0.6) - to research funders and schools. Both roles close 27 May 2025. firststory.org.uk/vacancies/

The winners of our 100 Word Story Competition 2024/25 ⭐1st Mission accomplished by Charlie, Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent ⭐2nd The Sky by Ahmed, Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent ⭐3rd Like It Was Once by Sara Alexandra, Holland Park School Thanks to Vintage for judging. firststory.org.uk/100-word-sto...

Amazing day in Cambridge with @firststory.bsky.social today! Big thanks to everyone involved!

Spring is Springing it's little heart out today. Another year photographing the incredible First Story (@firststory.bsky.social) Young Writers Festival. It's at Newnham College, Cambridge this year. A bit special.

✨Announcing a new First Story programme for Summer 2025: Your Voice✨ Your Voice will help secondary schools to provide creative & personal development opportunities for KS3. Includes ✨3 x in-school workshops ✨Tickets to a First Story Young Writers event Find out more firststory.org.uk/your-voice/

We are currently seeking an Operations Assistant (£26-27K, full time, hybrid 3-4 days in our London office). This is a key role, providing support to our operations and the programmes we deliver across our regions. More info and to apply: firststory.org.uk/vacancies/ Closes: Monday 17 March

Entries are open for the Philip Pyke Memorial Prize, an award for First Story Alumni aged 18+, supported by Sharanne Basham-Pyke & @arvonfoundation.bsky.social Here's 2024 winner Emily Freeman on what winning meant: youtube.com/shorts/jjejM... Closes 14 April firststory.org.uk/philip-pyke-...

Super duper delighted to share that I’ve started a new role as the Young Creatives Manager with @firststory.bsky.social! Enormous thanks to the team for such a warm welcome this week. I'm so excited for the projects that lie ahead!

We are seeking a paid Assistant Festival Producer Intern to help produce our first festival in Manchester. Gain an overview of event production & youth engagement. Postholder should be 18-25 and live in Greater Manchester/bale to get there easily. Closes: 17 February. firststory.org.uk/vacancies/

Come and see Tilly perform at Verve Poetry Festival Youth Takeover @vervepoetryfest.bsky.social @firststory.bsky.social firststory.org.uk/lives-change...

Congratulations to the winners of our 24/25 Six Word Story Competition judged by a panel from Penguin Random House. 1st Blake, Titus Salt School 2nd Kevarni, @haringeylp.bsky.social 3rd Sarah, Holland Park School firststory.org.uk/six-word-sto...

Manchester City of Literature have recently put together a literary walking trail throughout the city, be sure to check this out when you’re next visiting Manchester! A fantastic idea 🐝📚

16 days left #writers! And look - they donate to this amazing #charity @firststory.bsky.social - England's leading #creative #writing charity for young people. What an #inspiring prompt to encourage us to enter! @karenstoreyauthor.bsky.social @shortstorycomps.bsky.social @davemusson.bsky.social 🙏✍️

We are currently seeking a paid Publishing Intern to work with our Editorial & Production Manager on our anthologies production. The postholder should be aged 18-25. Candidates based in the North West, Yorkshire, East Mids will be given priority. Closes: 27 January 2025. firststory.org.uk/vacancies/

Thinking about a 2025 holiday? TUI, Bookingcom, Expedia, loveholidays & 1,000s more work with easyfundraising so First Story can receive a free donation when you book! Plus, if you take part in their travel poll, we could also WIN a £1,000 donation. More info: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/travel-hub/

The First Story team are taking a festive break from Monday 23 December to Thursday 2 January. We won't be replying to emails or social media messages during that time. Here's to even more creativity in 2025! 💫 Seasons Greetings from the First Story team!💫

Still looking for a festive gift? Here's the First Story team's favourite books of 2024. Our list includes recent titles, classics, award winners, bestsellers, fiction and poetry. Buy the books listed from uk.bookshop.org/lists/first-... and support us with your purchase.

We've just published our Impact Report for the last academic year 2023/24. Take a look on the First Story website: firststory.org.uk/download/fir... A huge THANK YOU to our schools, writers, partners, volunteers and funders for making our transformative programmes such a success.

Happy anthology Launch Day to Aylward Academy (@liftschools.bsky.social) and their Writer-in-Residence Freddie Machin! We can't wait to read 'Feeding Frenzy' - looks brilliant! #FirstStory #YoungWriters #YoungWritersProgramme

Absolutely magic session with our @firststory.bsky.social writers yesterday - thank you @adamzed.bsky.social !

Delighted to announce that I’m now officially a First Story Writer-in-Residence due to start at Laureate Academy in early December. @firststory.bsky.social are incredible. Find out more here: firststory.org.uk #KidLitUK

Had a brilliant time at Hull College this morning, delivering @firststory.bsky.social taster sessions for Year 10. Loads of creative writing and chat. Then popped into @waterstones.bsky.social and spotted my book on the same shelf as Paloma Faith’s. This was a good Monday for being a writer ❤️