Newcastle University

Creative writing lecturer William Fiennes recalls how a local scheme to teach the art of storytelling to schoolchildren developed into an inspiring charity headed by the Duchess of Cornwall the August edition of this well-known magazine.

The journey started in 2007 when William was asked by a young teacher, Katie Waldegrave, to run a writing workshop in a school in Hounslow, London. Although he expected this to be a one-off event where he would try to explain to the young students that just as they each had their own speaking voice, so they each had their own voice as writers and their own story to tell. Of course, one session with the students and he was hooked.

Helping them find their voice as writers proved addictive and Katie and William were inspired to co-found First Story - a charity that aims to support and inspire creativity, literacy and talen in challenging UK secondary schools and their communities.  Its patron is the Duchess of Cornwall whose commitment to literacy and creativity William describes as "genuine and inspiring".

Looking back on the early days, William says, "The students' delight in storytelling reminded me of why I'd wanted to be a writer in the first place. Each of them has a world in their head, and a voice that nobody  has ever had before, or will have again."

Read more about the tea party hosted by the Duchess of Cornwall to celebrate five years of the Charity on the First Story website.