Grants are available for organisations working with young people in the West Midlands to deliver projects and activities that use the power of storytelling and language to give historically marginalised young people a voice in shaping their future.
This fund aims to help unlock the potential of underprivileged 16- to 25-year-olds from historically marginalised communities, more specifically young people whose exclusion has hurt their levels of literacy and aspiration.
The funding is for local organisations and projects in the West Midlands that engage with young people through storytelling, using the power of language to amplify their voices, share their stories and create a brighter future for them and the people around them. This means that eligible projects may involve reading, writing, podcasts, poetry, theatre, acting, playwriting, and anything else relating to literacy. These approaches are to be used to improve levels of literacy and/or aspiration, whether this is achieved through literacy skills development, networking opportunities, mentoring, confidence building, platform provision or anything else.
Grants of up to £15,000 are available.
Projects must start within six months of receiving the grant, and the grant must be spent within 12 months of receipt of grant.
The following are not eligible for funding:
- The continuation or expansion of a pre-existing project. Proposed projects must contain a new element.
- Projects that solely involve music, art, or dance, without an element of language and storytelling.
Funding is for projects and activities that fit the following criteria:
- Engage local 16-to-25-year-olds using some element of language and expression to improve literacy levels and/or broaden career aspirations.
- The project is new in some way, either entirely or having at least one new element, such as a new location, target audience, or approach.
- Engage either or both:
- Youth located in the top 20% index of multiple deprivation (IMD Decile one or two).
- Youth from historically marginalised communities.
- Proposed projects can start within six months of receiving a grant and can be delivered within one year of the date of receipt.
Eligible projects can involve reading, writing, podcasts, poetry, theatre, acting, playwriting, and anything related to language and expression.
There are no restrictions on how the grant can be spent as long as the spending is directly connected to the delivery of the project.
The grant can be spent on project costs, staff salaries, venue expenses, food and travel stipend for participants, etc.
The 2025 guidance notes and an online application form can be found the Audible website.
Applications are now open with a deadline of 23 February 2025. Once entries close, applications will be reviewed and shortlisted applicants will be sent any follow-up questions. Notification of decisions expected by the end of April 2025.
The following support is available:
- Audible will hold a free webinar on 21 January 2025 (10:00 to 11:00) to talk through the Fund and answer questions. Organisations can sign up for the session here.
- One-on-One 15-minute drop-in sessions are available to ask questions or discuss ideas. The sessions are held with Fund organisers, Think Beyond. Organisations can sign up for sessions here.
