First Story
First Story is an English non-profit organisation that encourages young people to write creatively, outside the curriculum, for self-expression, pleasure and agency. Its stated mission is to empower young people from low-income communities to find and develop their own unique voices and, in doing so, thrive in education and beyond. The charity works in state secondary schools serving low-income communities and its operating regions are Greater London, the East Midlands and the North of England. First Story's flagship Young Writers Programme places professional authors into schools, where they work intensively with a consistent  cohort of young people, to develop confidence, creativity and writing ability. The programme culminates in the publication of an anthology of students' writing, edited by their Writer-in-Residence. First Story professionally produces over 60 new publications every year and each anthology has a unique cover design and ISBN. In addition to its core programme offer, the charity also runs creative writing competitions and events for programme participants. The charity's current Chief Executive is Antonia Byatt, a former head of English PEN and the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Its current Chair of Trustees is Ed Baden-Powell and Patron is  Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall. In the 2018–19 academic year, First Story worked in 73 schools across England and 1,565 students (aged 11–16) completed its intensive Writer-in-Residence programme. History. First Story was founded in London in 2008 by a former Teach First teacher, Katie Waldegrave, and a professional writer, William Fiennes, to provide young people in state education with extra-curricular support to develop their confidence, creativity and writing ability. Fiennes and Waldegrave met in 2007, when she was a history teacher at Cranford Community College in west London, and he was the Writer-in-Residence  at the fee-paying American School in London. Together they developed a plan to bring Fiennes' creative writing expertise into Waldegrave's less well-resourced state school. Based on the success of this pilot project, a year later the pair founded First Story. The organisation's registered charitable objectives are: As First Story's first Executive Director, Katie Waldegrave oversaw the charity's growth from one school in London, to more than 50 participating schools nationally. She stepped-down from day-to-day running of the organisation in 2014. The organisation still adhere's to Fiennes' philosophy and creative writing  pedagogy and he remains close to the organisation. Notable Writers. Anthony Anaxagorou Dean Atta Anthony Cartwright Bali Rai Rachel Seiffert Ross Raisin Juno Dawson