First Story Presents: London Voice

About First Story Presents: London Voice

This podcast is part of the wider London Voice programme, an exciting new oracy pilot delivered by First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. Over the course of this academic year, First Story has been working with six non-selective secondary schools in Greater London as part of London Voice. It’s aim? To help young people develop as writers who have a voice and the skills and confidence to be heard. Students from Hampstead School, St Paul’s Way School, Platanos College, Skinners’ Academy, Trinity Acadamy and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Church of England School have had the opportunity to take part in creative writing, performance and audio workshops led by skilled industry professionals. This podcast is one of the outcomes of their work. Produced by Talia Randall in collaboration with First Story Mixed by Jamie Payne London Voice has been made possible by the generous support of The Mercers’ Company, trustee of St Paul’s Schools Foundation. This was a First Story project. To find out more about First Story and London Voice, visit firststory.org.uk (https://firststory.org.uk/) and join the conversation on Instagram by following @firststory_uk (https://www.instagram.com/firststory_uk/). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

First Story

Category

arts · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Jun 2025

Latest episode

18 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Jun 2026

   6 | I’ll Write You a World: Trinity Academy

   First Story Presents: London Voice is part of an exciting new oracy initiative delivered by First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. In the final episode of this season, young writers from Trinity Academy reflect on the critical thinking skills and broadened perspectives that the creative writing programme has given them. Through their poems and stories, they share with the listener their sense of connectivity – through music, love, education, to the places they’ve grown up, to siblings, and through the unifying experience of being human. Producer: Talia Randall in collaboration with First Story Mixing: Talia Randall Featuring: Keanna, Shanel, Shaniel, Jahaluka, David, Ryder, Ridwaan, Danae and Shaquille from Trinity Academy Over the course of this academic year, First Story has been working with six non-selective secondary schools in Greater London as part of London Voice to help young people develop as writers who have the skills and confidence to be heard. Students from Hampstead School, St Paul’s Way School, Platanos College, Skinners’ Academy, Trinity Acadamy and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Church of England School have had the opportunity to take part in creative writing, performance and audio workshops led by skilled industry professionals. This podcast is one of the outcomes of their work. London Voice has been made possible by the generous support of The Mercers’ Company, trustee of St Paul’s Schools Foundation. This is a First Story project. To find out more about First Story and London Voice, visit firststory.org.uk (https://firststory.org.uk/) and join the conversation on Instagram by following @firststory_uk (https://www.instagram.com/firststory_uk/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   18 Jun 2026

   5 | Because I Deserve a Voice: St Paul’s Way School

   First Story Presents: London Voice is part of an exciting new oracy initiative delivered by First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. In this penultimate episode, student Meneske reflects on the freeing experience of being a First Story young writer. Through a selection of original creative writing, we're teleported right into the world of a painting, invited to consider the pros and cons of an impending meteoric apocalypse, and discover a new appreciation for bread... Producer: Talia Randall in collaboration with First Story Mixing: Talia Randall Featuring: Hannah, Meneske, Sevdenur, Khadijah, Adiyaan, Maisha, Roxy and William from St Paul's Way School Over the course of this academic year, First Story has been working with six non-selective secondary schools in Greater London as part of London Voice to help young people develop as writers who have the skills and confidence to be heard. Students from Hampstead School, St Paul’s Way School, Platanos College, Skinners’ Academy, Trinity Acadamy and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Church of England School have had the opportunity to take part in creative writing, performance and audio workshops led by skilled industry professionals. This podcast is one of the outcomes of their work. London Voice has been made possible by the generous support of The Mercers’ Company, trustee of St Paul’s Schools Foundation. This is a First Story project. To find out more about First Story and London Voice, visit firststory.org.uk (https://firststory.org.uk/) and join the conversation on Instagram by following @firststory_uk (https://www.instagram.com/firststory_uk/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   18 Jun 2026

   4 | I’m Golden: Skinners’ Academy

   First Story Presents: London Voice is part of an exciting new oracy initiative delivered by First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. In this episode, the students at Skinners’ Academy introduce us to the places, characters, sounds and textures of where they live, and author, Luan Goldie, reflects on the joy of being a First Story Writer-in-Residence. Producer: Talia Randall in collaboration with First Story Mixing: Talia Randall Featuring: Dawar, Jayden, Jayden, Layla, Cinar, Victoria, Soni, Davi and Nariman from Skinners' Academy Over the course of this academic year, First Story has been working with six non-selective secondary schools in Greater London as part of London Voice to help young people develop as writers who have the skills and confidence to be heard. Students from Hampstead School, St Paul’s Way School, Platanos College, Skinners’ Academy, Trinity Acadamy and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Church of England School have had the opportunity to take part in creative writing, performance and audio workshops led by skilled industry professionals. This podcast is one of the outcomes of their work. London Voice has been made possible by the generous support of The Mercers’ Company, trustee of St Paul’s Schools Foundation. This is a First Story project. To find out more about First Story and London Voice, visit firststory.org.uk (https://firststory.org.uk/) and join the conversation on Instagram by following @firststory_uk (https://www.instagram.com/firststory_uk/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

4. 

   18 Jun 2026

   3 | Somewhere in the Quiet Sky: St Saviour’s and St Olave’s CofE School

   First Story Presents: London Voice is part of an exciting new oracy initiative delivered by First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. The First Story young writers at St Saviour’s and St Olave’s School aren’t shying away from the big topics in this episode of First Story: Presents. Forgiveness, self-acceptance, love and belonging are just some of the themes that radiate powerfully from the creative writer they share. Producer: Talia Randall in collaboration with First Story Mixing: Talia Randall Featuring: Eliana, Hattie, Zoe, Saliuta, Salma, Amal and Zeruiah from St Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England School Over the course of this academic year, First Story has been working with six non-selective secondary schools in Greater London as part of London Voice to help young people develop as writers who have the skills and confidence to be heard. Students from Hampstead School, St Paul’s Way School, Platanos College, Skinners’ Academy, Trinity Acadamy and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Church of England School have had the opportunity to take part in creative writing, performance and audio workshops led by skilled industry professionals. This podcast is one of the outcomes of their work. London Voice has been made possible by the generous support of The Mercers’ Company, trustee of St Paul’s Schools Foundation. This is a First Story project. To find out more about First Story and London Voice, visit firststory.org.uk (https://firststory.org.uk/) and join the conversation on Instagram by following @firststory_uk (https://www.instagram.com/firststory_uk/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

5. 

   18 Jun 2026

   2 | It Started with the Kids: Platanos College

   First Story Presents: London Voice is part of an exciting new oracy initiative delivered by First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. In this episode, students from Platanos College share their original poems and stories, created throughout the First Story London Voice programme. They ask us, the listener, to imagine a (perhaps not-so-distant) dystopian, machine-run future and hold up a mirror to society, challenging our desires for perfection and our treatment of others. Producer: Talia Randall in collaboration with First Story Mixing: Talia Randall Featuring: Faizat, Kimi, V, Kai, Georgina and Tanesha from Platanos College Over the course of this academic year, First Story has been working with six non-selective secondary schools in Greater London as part of London Voice to help young people develop as writers who have the skills and confidence to be heard. Students from Hampstead School, St Paul’s Way School, Platanos College, Skinners’ Academy, Trinity Acadamy and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Church of England School have had the opportunity to take part in creative writing, performance and audio workshops led by skilled industry professionals. This podcast is one of the outcomes of their work. London Voice has been made possible by the generous support of The Mercers’ Company, trustee of St Paul’s Schools Foundation. This is a First Story project. To find out more about First Story and London Voice, visit firststory.org.uk (https://firststory.org.uk/) and join the conversation on Instagram by following @firststory_uk (https://www.instagram.com/firststory_uk/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

6. 

   18 Jun 2026

   1 | Blue Sky Ballads: Hampstead School

   First Story Presents: London Voice is part of an exciting oracy initiative delivered by First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. Over the course of this academic year, First Story has been working with six non-selective secondary schools in Greater London as part of London Voice to help young people develop as writers who have the skills and confidence to be heard. In this first episode, we journey with the young writers at Hampstead School as they take us from the city of London, through haunted homes to abandoned farms. We reflect with them on community and friendship, resilience and grief, and the internal soundtracks that move us. Producer: Talia Randall in collaboration with First Story Mixing: Talia Randall Featuring: Lottie, Sirine, Nuriyah, Dorothy, Miranda, Millie, Lily and Ellen from Hampstead School As part of London Voice, students from Hampstead School, St Paul’s Way School, Platanos College, Skinners’ Academy, Trinity Acadamy and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Church of England School have had the opportunity to take part in creative writing, performance and audio workshops led by skilled industry professionals. This podcast is one of the outcomes of their work. London Voice has been made possible by the generous support of The Mercers’ Company, trustee of St Paul’s Schools Foundation. This is a First Story project. To find out more about First Story and London Voice, visit firststory.org.uk (https://firststory.org.uk/) and join the conversation on Instagram by following @firststory_uk (https://www.instagram.com/firststory_uk/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

7. 

   2 Jun 2025

   6 | Odes at St Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England School

   First Story Presents: London Voice is part of an exciting new oracy pilot delivered by First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. Young writers from the First Story programme at St Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England School put pen (and voice) to praise poems in this final episode of First Story Presents: London Voice. Writer-in-Residence Ashley Hickson-Lovence guides us through odes to places, food, music, names, the moon and even an impromptu ode-of-sorts to biscuits. We also hear how oracy supports good mental health, with Speak for Change, the APPG enquiring into oracy, reporting that spoken communication skills are associated with self-confidence, self-esteem and emotional literacy. Sophie Hiscock, First Story CEO, reflects on the power of hearing young people speaking out in their own voices, using their own words. Producer: Talia Randall in collaboration with First Story Mixing: Jamie Payne Presenter: Ashley Hickson-Lovence Featuring: Destiny, Ellie, Favour, Isabel and Zoe from St Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England School, and Sophie Hiscock, First Story CEO Over the course of this academic year, First Story has been working with six non-selective secondary schools in Greater London as part of London Voice to help young people develop as writers who have the skills and confidence to be heard. Students from Hampstead School, St Paul’s Way School, Platanos College, Skinners’ Academy, Trinity Acadamy and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Church of England School have had the opportunity to take part in creative writing, performance and audio workshops led by skilled industry professionals. This podcast is one of the outcomes of their work. London Voice has been made possible by the generous support of The Mercers’ Company, trustee of St Paul’s Schools Foundation. This is a First Story project. To find out more about First Story and London Voice, visit firststory.org.uk (https://firststory.org.uk/) and join the conversation on Instagram by following @firststory_uk (https://www.instagram.com/firststory_uk/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

8. 

   2 Jun 2025

   5 | If I Were Prime Minister... at Trinity Academy

   First Story Presents: London Voice is part of an exciting new oracy pilot delivered by First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. In this penultimate episode, First Story Ambassador Tracy Chevalier presents the voices of the young writers at Trinity Academy in Brixton. Through original stories and poems, the students unpack their experiences and confront the societal influence and school stereotypes they see around them. Tracy also invites fellow First Story Ambassador, Patrice Lawrence, to share her thoughts on the importance of oracy and valuing teenagers' voices, and the impact of growing up surrounded by storytellers. Producer: Talia Randall in collaboration with First Story Mixing: Jamie Payne Presenter: Tracy Chevalier Featuring: Jahaluka, John, Keanna, Mohammed, Ridwaan, Shaniel and Liam Flaherty from Trinity Academy, and writer and First Story Ambassador Patrice Lawrence Over the course of this academic year, First Story has been working with six non-selective secondary schools in Greater London as part of London Voice to help young people develop as writers who have the skills and confidence to be heard. Students from Hampstead School, St Paul’s Way School, Platanos College, Skinners’ Academy, Trinity Acadamy and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Church of England School have had the opportunity to take part in creative writing, performance and audio workshops led by skilled industry professionals. This podcast is one of the outcomes of their work. London Voice has been made possible by the generous support of The Mercers’ Company, trustee of St Paul’s Schools Foundation. This is a First Story project. To find out more about First Story and London Voice, visit firststory.org.uk (https://firststory.org.uk/) and join the conversation on Instagram by following @firststory_uk (https://www.instagram.com/firststory_uk/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

9. 

   2 Jun 2025

   4 | Going Beneath the Surface at Skinners' Academy

   First Story Presents: London Voice is part of an exciting new oracy pilot delivered by First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. Students at Skinners' Academy in Hackney share their original poems and stories, created throughout the First Story London Voice programme. Speaking with Writer-in-Residence, Luan Goldie, the Skinners' students discuss the value of being present and the freedom they found in sharing their voices through audio, away from the pointed lens of a video camera. Their English teacher, Comfort Akano, also has a powerful message to share with her students, and with all of us... Producer: Talia Randall in collaboration with First Story Mixing: Jamie Payne Presenter: Luan Goldie Featuring: Ameera, Angelina, Farida, Nofisat, Tiayan and Comfort Akano from Skinners' Academy Over the course of this academic year, First Story has been working with six non-selective secondary schools in Greater London as part of London Voice to help young people develop as writers who have the skills and confidence to be heard. Students from Hampstead School, St Paul’s Way School, Platanos College, Skinners’ Academy, Trinity Acadamy and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Church of England School have had the opportunity to take part in creative writing, performance and audio workshops led by skilled industry professionals. This podcast is one of the outcomes of their work. London Voice has been made possible by the generous support of The Mercers’ Company, trustee of St Paul’s Schools Foundation. This is a First Story project. To find out more about First Story and London Voice, visit firststory.org.uk (https://firststory.org.uk/) and join the conversation on Instagram by following @firststory_uk (https://www.instagram.com/firststory_uk/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

10. 

    2 Jun 2025

    3 | Harnessing the Power of Cringe at Platanos College

    First Story Presents: London Voice is part of an exciting new oracy pilot delivered by First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. Fewer than 3 in 10 children and young people aged 8-18 say that they enjoy writing in their free time, according to the National Literacy Trust 2024 Report. First Story believes that writing regularly can support mental health and wellbeing, as much as furthering literacy and attainment. That's why First Story works to provide opportunities for young people to participate in enriching creative writing activities, such as London Voice. In this episode of First Story Presents: London Voice, Writer-in-Residence, Dean Atta, introduces the brilliant original writing of First Story students at Platanos College, and their enthusiasm and sense of fun and enjoyment is palpable! We also hear from Yomi Ṣode, acclaimed writer and London Voice Performance Skills facilitator, who speaks to the power of giving young people permission to let loose and be silly. Producer: Talia Randall in collaboration with First Story Mixing: Jamie Payne Presenter: Dean Atta Featuring: Amy, Hilary, Lady Scarlett, Patricia and Tahlia from Platanos College, and writer and performer Yomi Ṣode Over the course of this academic year, First Story has been working with six non-selective secondary schools in Greater London as part of London Voice to help young people develop as writers who have the skills and confidence to be heard. Students from Hampstead School, St Paul’s Way School, Platanos College, Skinners’ Academy, Trinity Acadamy and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Church of England School have had the opportunity to take part in creative writing, performance and audio workshops led by skilled industry professionals. This podcast is one of the outcomes of their work. London Voice has been made possible by the generous support of The Mercers’ Company, trustee of St Paul’s Schools Foundation. This is a First Story project. To find out more about First Story and London Voice, visit firststory.org.uk (https://firststory.org.uk/) and join the conversation on Instagram by following @firststory_uk (https://www.instagram.com/firststory_uk/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

11. 

    2 Jun 2025

    2 | Busy Cafés and Wintry Days at St Paul’s Way School

    First Story Presents: London Voice is part of an exciting new oracy pilot delivered by First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. Writer and theatre-maker, Adam Z. Robinson, guides listeners through original creative writing written and performed by First Story students at St Paul's Way School. Lifting the curtain on his year-long residency at the school, Adam shares some of the creative prompts and inspirations behind the poems and stories you'll hear in this episode, and reflects with the students and teachers on the importance of protecting and promoting creativity in schools. Producer: Talia Randall in collaboration with First Story Mixing: Jamie Payne Presenter: Adam Z. Robinson Featuring: Feliks, Fareeda, Fatimah, Shanice, Zarah, Zoharin and Grant Summers from St Paul's Way School Over the course of this academic year, First Story has been working with six non-selective secondary schools in Greater London as part of London Voice to help young people develop as writers who have the skills and confidence to be heard. Students from Hampstead School, St Paul’s Way School, Platanos College, Skinners’ Academy, Trinity Acadamy and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Church of England School have had the opportunity to take part in creative writing, performance and audio workshops led by skilled industry professionals. This podcast is one of the outcomes of their work. London Voice has been made possible by the generous support of The Mercers’ Company, trustee of St Paul’s Schools Foundation. This is a First Story project. To find out more about First Story and London Voice, visit firststory.org.uk (https://firststory.org.uk/) and join the conversation on Instagram by following @firststory_uk (https://www.instagram.com/firststory_uk/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

12. 

    2 Jun 2025

    1 | Thunder and Shipwrecks at Hampstead School

    First Story Presents: London Voice is part of an exciting new oracy pilot delivered by First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. Over the course of this academic year, First Story has been working with six non-selective secondary schools in Greater London as part of London Voice to help young people develop as writers who have the skills and confidence to be heard. In this first episode, Talia Randall, award-winning audio producer and writer, returns to Hampstead School where she was once a student. Whilst there, she meets with young writers from the First Story London Voice programme, whose poems, stories and reflections provide invaluable insight into young people's experiences of the world and how they're learning to use creativity to amplify their voices. Producer: Talia Randall in collaboration with First Story Mixing: Jamie Payne Presenter: Talia Randall Featuring: Chancey, Nuriyah, Eden, River, Leila and Miss Willcock from Hampstead School As part of London Voice, students from Hampstead School, St Paul’s Way School, Platanos College, Skinners’ Academy, Trinity Acadamy and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Church of England School have had the opportunity to take part in creative writing, performance and audio workshops led by skilled industry professionals. This podcast is one of the outcomes of their work. London Voice has been made possible by the generous support of The Mercers’ Company, trustee of St Paul’s Schools Foundation. This is a First Story project. To find out more about First Story and London Voice, visit firststory.org.uk (https://firststory.org.uk/) and join the conversation on Instagram by following @firststory_uk (https://www.instagram.com/firststory_uk/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Podcast Authority Score: 40 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

61

Social presence

94

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.