This year’s First Story Young Writers’ Festival was a fantastic success. 800 students gathered in an Oxford garden under a balmy autumn sky to listen to writers Patrick Ness, Sally Green and others. As we’ve done before, Give a Book provided the book stall which was once again swarming with students and provided a huge source of excitement and inspiration for them. First Story told us that so many young people came up to them just thrilled to know that the writer of the book in their hand was actually in the marquee and could sign their book, and asking to be pointed in the right direction so they could go and meet them in person. One teacher from a Pupil Referral Unit for students excluded from mainstream education, said:
‘Our group of students [from PRU] all really loved it and all asked me if they could have a book – that’s a first, so already the programme is impacting positively on our young people.’
Every student at the Festival was able to get a book to take home, read, keep, share, enjoy.
Photographer: Joanna Madziarska, Photovibe.
