Ways to support
We’re a charity, reliant on funds raised from trusts and foundations, companies and generous individuals to enable our work. Although partner schools contribute to the cost of our provision, our programmes are majority funded by voluntary support. Please help however you can.
Become a Friend of First Story
Commit to a monthly donation of £50 (or an annual gift of £600) and join some of our closest supporters, the Friends of First Story. Our Friends are a vitally important group helping to fund our core programmes year round. To thank you for your ongoing support, you’ll receive an annual Impact Report, priority news and invitations to our events.
Philanthropy
For supporters who are able to invest more deeply in our work, the First Editions Group is First Story’s exclusive philanthropy circle. The group contributes directly to funding First Story’s operational plan and strategic development. In return for their creative commitment, members connect with First Story’s leadership team and are invited to engage with like-minded peers at regular events. Past events have been have been held at venues including RIBA, the Bank of England, the House of Lords and Clarence House.
I support First Story because it is small, focused and has great impact.
Beth colocci, First Editions Group
Fundraise for us
With so many fun and rewarding ways to inspire donations from your family, friends, colleagues and community, whatever support you can give will make a huge difference. Could you organise your own event? How about taking on a sponsored challenge? You can even donate proceeds from the sale of tickets or products… Whatever you choose to do, we’ll promote your fundraising efforts through our website and digital channels.
Corporate support
Join large corporate supporters like Man Group and Wellington UK, and smaller organisations like Wordbank, by making First Story your company’s charity of choice. From sponsorship and corporate giving, to employee fundraising and pro bono support, we’re keen to partner with values-aligned businesses of all sizes. We could help each other achieve incredible things for young people.
It was fun to take part in the Wordbank virtual relay to raise money for First Story. Even though it was virtual, it was still a great way to connect with my colleagues.
BERT VANMUYSEN, Wordbank employee
Giving in memory
We regularly hear from supporters who want to make a donation to honour the memory of a loved one. Donors sometimes tell us they chose First Story because their loved one valued education, and knew how it can change the course of a life. Sometimes it’s simply that the loved one cherished creative writing. If you’d like to remember someone’s life with a gift to First Story, please get in touch.
Legacy giving
By leaving even a small amount to First Story in your will, you can give the gift of creative writing to future generations. If you are considering this form of giving, please don’t hesitate to contact us for practical advice or support. And please let us know if you have already remembered us in your will, so that we can say thank you in person.
How your support impacts young people’s lives…
Baran’s Story
After completing the Young Writers Programme during 2021 at Commerce House, a PRU in Haringey, North London, Baran received his GCSE results and enrolled at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London. Read Baran’s poem ‘Baran in Wood Green’ >
Habiba’s Story
Habiba studied English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Huddersfield, where she was Student Ambassador. In 2018 she was selected to attend Penguin Random House’s WriteNowLive event. Since graduating she has held roles at Vintage, Waterstones and the Bradford Literature Festival. Habiba is the Co-Founder of Fox and Windmill Books, an independent publishing …
Priya’s Story
Priya completed the Young Writers Programme in 2019–20 at Landau Forte College in Derby, working with the Writer-in-Residence, Joe Marsh. The following year she was awarded a coveted Rathbone’s Folio Prize Mentorship, working with poet Kathryn Maris. Priya is a poet, a First Story Ambassador and also Derby’s Deputy Youth Mayor. She was commissioned to create …
Weronika’s Story
Weronika completed the First Story Young Writers Programme at John Leggott College in Scunthorpe during the 2019–20 academic year, working with the writer Joe Hakim. She was one of five alums who participated in the prestigious Folio Prize Mentorship programme where she worked with the novelist Nikesh Shukla.
Nidaa’s Story
Nidaa took part in the Young Writers Programme as a student at Nottingham Academy, working with poets Jim Hall and Ioney Smallhorne. Afterwards, she stayed in touch with the First Story group by supporting and mentoring younger students. Nidaa was one of five alumni who participated in the prestigious Rathbones Folio Prize Mentorships programme in …
Alice’s Story
Alice completed First Story Young Writers Programme at Hull College during the 2019–20 academic year having never written creatively for pleasure before. She won a place to attend the virtual summer residential course, alongside fifteen other talented students and is also one of four alums to be picked for the prestigious Rathbones Folio Mentorship. Since …
Aisha’s Story
Aisha took part in the programme at Judgemeadow Community College. She was awarded a fully-funded place to attend Arvon, Lumb Bank in 2019 and continues to write creatively alongside studying.
Diana’s Story
Diana completed the Young Writers Programme at Co-op Academy Grange in Bradford, during the 2018–19 academic year. She lives between worlds: not just between her old life in Liepāja, Latvia, and her current life in Bradford, but also between the worlds of page and stage of poetry and prose and of writing, directing and acting. …
Abigail’s Story
Abigail completed First Story’s intensive creative writing programme at Melior Community Academy in Scunthorpe, during the 2018-19 academic year. She then won a place to attend First Story’s week-long residential course in the summer of 2019, alongside fifteen other talented students, at Arvon, Lumb Bank.
Sally’s Story
Sally participated in First Story’s intensive programme at Hull College during 2018-19, working with writer Joe Hakim. Home-schooled for most of her life, Sally joined Hull College for Year 10. By her own admission she can be quite introverted but says her confidence has grown since becoming involved with First Story. Sally discovered her passion …
Elizabeth’s Story
Elizabeth took part in the First Story programme at Hull College in 2017/18. She has gone from being someone who, prior to First Story, never wrote creatively, to someone who now attends spoken word and poetry events, where she shares her writing with audiences of 50 and more. Since leaving college, she has been appointed …
Imaru’s Story
Imaru took part in the First Story programme at Highgate Wood School in London. He was also selected to attend our summer residential and later entered the Rathbones Folio Prize.
