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...
New Writers Flash Fiction Competition 2026 - Deadline 31 January 2026
** 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...
New Writers Flash Fiction Competition 2026
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...
Graphic that says Happy national writing day!
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.
Image of three young people in school uniform, sat at round tables in a school library. They are smiling and there are sheets of paper on the tables in front of them. The words above and below the image read First Story Your Voice A new programme for Summer 20205 Creative and personal development opportunities for Key Stage 3.
✨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/
Hurrah Adam and the young writers @spwlibrary.bsky.social 💫
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
If you completed a First Story programme let us know and we'll add you to our alumni mailing list. Please be in touch with our Communications and Marketing Manager Annette: annette.brook@firststory.org.uk
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!
Huge FS welcome Rose! 💫
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...