A PROGRAMME to inspire young people to become the writers of tomorrow will once again expand to more Bradford schools next year, after its second year proved a huge success.

First Story is a project that links secondary schools with authors that mentor pupils, and ends up with the young people publishing their own anthologies.

The group works with schools in deprived areas, and after initial successes in London and Nottingham, a trial scheme was set up in three Bradford schools in 2013. Pupils at Carlton Bolling College, Feversham College and Belle Vue Boys School enjoyed a year of working with noted writers, and the scheme was so successful in its first year that the number of school involved in the second year doubled to six.

And next year that number will again rise, with nine schools signed up.

Schools involved nominate which ever pupils they think will most benefit from the scheme, with some offering their gifted and talented pupils the chance to go beyond the usual English curriculum, and others choosing to open new doors for young people who are not normally engaged in literature.

In the past few weeks the schools involved over the past year have had launch events for the anthologies they have written over the past year, with family and classmates coming along to the events.

As well as working with the authors, the pupils involved visit art exhibitions for inspiration.

One of the schools involved, Dixons Allerton Academy, has been working with Rachel Conner, and the students recently celebrated the launch of their anthology - Being Human. The school event also tied in with an exhibition of art and photography work from other students.

The school plans to continue the partnership with First Story next year.

Students at Feversham College have been working with acclaimed writer Kate Fox to develop all of the pieces in their anthology. Lisa Altobelli, teacher at Feversham, said: "First Story is unleashing the passion the girls have for their writing and their reading of their own work. I’ve never in all my experience of teaching seen anything quite like it."

At Bradford Academy pupils worked with poet Stan Skinny, who they met with on a weekly basis. Their anthology of original poems and short stories was published last month.

Kayleigh Marsden, teacher of English at Bradford Academy, said: "First Story has provided a wonderful opportunity for learners within the Academy to develop their creative writing.

"The learners have grown over the year both in confidence and ability in order to produce their final anthology."

Other schools involved this past year were Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College, who partnered with author Andrew McMillan, Appleton Academy, which worked with Nick Toczek, and University Academy Keighley who joined forces with Mark Illis.

Emily Webb, Head of Programmes at First Story, said: "Next school year we plan to work with 10 schools. I think we've been really lucky to work with the schools we've been in, and it is helping us expand into even more schools.

"We work with the schools to target the students they want us to, whether it is the gifted and talented or students on free school meals.

"Bradford was the first area in the north we expanded into, and we hope to expand to another 30 schools over the next three years, dependant on funding.

"As well as working with the authors it is important that students engage with other students.

"I've heard young people involved in this before say that First Story has changed their lives and given them confidence. A lot have carried on writing afterwards.

"It is great when you go to the launch events and you see pride in the parents' faces when they see their children have written something that has been published. It is a really special moment."