First Story supports and inspires creativity, literacy and talent in challenging UK secondary schools and their communities. It arranges and pays for acclaimed authors to run after-school creative writing workshops, and then publishes the stories and encourages students to read them aloud at events to family, friends and teachers.

Why First Story
There is a clear educational disadvantage faced by children in challenging social and economic circumstances. Using the power of creative-writing workshops, First Story helps young people and their teachers develop the ability and confidence to aspire.

How do they do it?
First Story places acclaimed authors are writers-in-residence in challenging secondary schools across the country. Throughout the academic year, each writer-in-residence leads a weekly writing group for students and teachers. They publish the students' work in anthologies and arrange book launches at which the students can read aloud to friends, families and teachers.

Where do they do it?
They focus on schools in which more than 50% of pupils are considered deprived according to the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) and GCSE results fall in the lowest third of the national distribution.

We've seen how First Story writers-in-residence can fundamentally change the outlook of the schools in which they work.

Impact

100% of teachers felt that students have experienced a large gain in confidence and self esteem.

95% of teachers felt that their students' career prospects have improved.

90% of teachers said that students' writing has improved beyond predicted levels.

90% of teachers said their students attendance has improved.

100% of students felt more confident about their writing.