Bursaries to help educators share the power of creative writing

If you’d like to expand your skills base and become more confident about teaching creative writing in a range of settings, the First Story bursaries could be for you.  

A collaboration between the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) and First Story, these bursaries provide reduced tuition fees for five students on next year’s Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching Creative Writing.  

Patrick Toland studied on the course in 2019 and was a recipient of the First Story Bursary.  

“As a lifelong learner, ICE has a magnetic pull and offers the chance to study in a way that opens up portals and avenues within your career that you may not have envisioned before arrival” says Patrick. “I came to ICE as a secondary teacher and since then I have become a winner in the Hippocrates Poetry Prize 2020, a Programme Director for the Human Health Project, a Regional Lead for the NHS at 70/Voices of Covid oral history project at Manchester University and a Regional Director of an organisation that puts service user story at the centre of their design work. 

It may seem as though I have pivoted far from my point of origin but the golden thread in all of these projects is still story, creativity, writing, social change and the interests I brought to ICE in the first instance which underwent a form of 'alchemy' whilst at Madingley! My journey of self-discovery was guided by expert teaching and mentoring” recalls Patrick, “and I was delighted when I discovered I was the recipient of a First Story bursary as it was particularly affirming for a once free-school meal, working class, young carer such as myself to get the encouragement and accreditation of the First Story award and its ethos of advancement through story and creativity.” 

Open to those working in state-funded or non-profit organisations such as state schools, public libraries, local authorities, health or prison services, each bursary covers £2,100 of costs towards the one-year, part-time course. 

The scheme is open to applicants from anywhere in the world, and, as Joint Course Director and Academic Director at ICE, Dr Midge Gillies, explains, you don’t have to think of yourself as a writer to take part: 

“The First Story bursaries are for anyone working for the benefit of disadvantaged communities by teaching creative writing. If you work in schools, mental health services, unemployment or the voluntary sector, for example, this course gives you the tools and confidence to enhance your work, even if you don’t see yourself primarily as a creative writing tutor.” 

It’s the fourth year ICE and First Story – a charity that encourages young people from all backgrounds to write creatively for pleasure and agency – have offered the bursaries after initially collaborating as part of the BBC National Short Story Awards. 

“We met First Story and realised we had a very similar ethos,” says Midge. “We’re both trying to encourage those who might not see themselves as writers or readers to develop their skills and creative spirit. We both want to foster inclusivity and broaden opportunities for a more diverse range of people, so the partnership makes good sense.” 

Learn more 

Find out more about the course and First Story bursaries, and apply via our bursaries page.