In a landmark achievement, Hull College is elated to announce that Mason Cooper, a remarkable student from its 14-16 College, has successfully earned a spot at the esteemed First Story summer residential event. This extraordinary accomplishment speaks volumes about Mason’s unwavering dedication and superb application to the First Story programme throughout the academic year.
Founded in 2008, First Story is England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. Their flagship Young Writers Programme pairs professional writers with secondary schools in low-income communities, to nurture creativity, confidence, and ability among young writers.
The highly-awaited residential event is scheduled to take place from Monday 24th July to Friday 28th July 2023 at Arvon’s idyllic Lumb Bank writing centre, nestled in the heart of rural West Yorkshire. This annual event is a creative huddle, uniting 16 young talented writers from First Story schools spread across the United Kingdom. Over the course of the week, these promising young scribes will engage in an immersive week of creative writing.
During this event, 15-year-old Mason will have the rare chance to live and write alongside his equally gifted peers, cultivating an atmosphere of creativity, collaboration, and camaraderie.
Mason, who expressed his joy about the selection, said: “I’m delighted. It’s a fantastic opportunity to go away and work with like-minded students and professional writers to develop my skills – I can’t wait! Being part of the First Story programme this year has sparked a new passion for writing within me, one that I am eager to continue nurturing.”
The programme agenda includes captivating group creative writing workshops and invaluable one-on-one tutorials conducted by renowned writers: John Berkavitch, Cecelia Knapp, and Testament. The guidance and expertise offered by these celebrated mentors will aid Mason in further honing his writing skills and exploring uncharted territories in the realms of storytelling.
Hull College and the 14-16 College are immensely proud of Mason’s achievement. His selection for the residential programme is a testament to his talent, dedication, and the unwavering support he received from the college and the First Story initiative. This recognition reflects the nurturing environment the college provides, fostering its students’ growth and kindling their love for writing.
Expressing his admiration for Mason, Alex Reveley, Head of 14-16 College, said, “We are incredibly proud of Mason’s selection for a place at First Story’s Arvon summer residential. His accomplishment is a reflection of his remarkable talent and commitment to writing. We believe this opportunity will further inspire him to delve deeper into his creativity and achieve even greater heights in his writing journey.”
The college extends its heartfelt congratulations to Mason and wishes him continued success in his future writing endeavours.
