Audible invests £40k to empower marginalised young people
- Colour Editorial
- Aug 7
- 2 min read
AUDIO NEWS
Audible reveals new Future Stories Fund grantees across the West Midlands
£40k investment to empower marginalised young people through the power of storytelling
Audible, a global leader in spoken-word entertainment, has announced the latest recipients of its Future Stories Fund, investing over £40,000 in three grassroots organisations across the West Midlands to support young people aged 16–25 from historically marginalised communities.
The Future Stories Fund was launched to help unlock the potential of young people whose exclusion from mainstream opportunities has negatively impacted their literacy and aspirations. Through creative projects rooted in storytelling - from poetry and podcasting to theatre and audio production - the fund provides skills, confidence and platforms for young voices to be heard.
This latest West Midlands cohort follows the successful 2024 round in North-West England, where each organisation received up to £15,000 to deliver high-impact projects engaging disadvantaged youth.
Sophie Plateau, Community Impact Manager at Audible (pictured left), emphasised the programme’s importance: “We are proud to support these projects, which align perfectly with our commitment to amplifying diverse voices in storytelling. The Future Stories Fund is part of Audible's ongoing social impact work, dedicated to improving literacy and aspirations among young people from disadvantaged and marginalised groups. By investing in these young people, we believe we can foster a new wave of creativity and help build a more inclusive society where every story has the chance to be heard.”
The 2025 West Midlands grantees are:
Powerhouse, Herefordshire for ‘Amplify’
Powerhouse will launch Amplify, its inaugural six-month storytelling and audio production programme for 50 young people from some of Herefordshire’s most deprived areas. Participants will take part in scriptwriting workshops and produce short-form audio dramas and podcasts based on their lived experiences.
Tim Evans, Artistic Director & CEO, Powerhouse, said:“This support is enabling us to pioneer new models for youth engagement in our region by bringing together our unique collection of theatre, literature and digital storytelling.”
Inspire Hub Central, Sparkbrook, Birmingham for ‘Beyond the Margins’
Inspire Hub Central will deliver Beyond the Margins, a new initiative combining poetry, podcasting, theatre and playwriting for 16-18 year-olds from Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Somali and other underrepresented backgrounds. Monthly workshops, mentoring and live showcases will explore identity, heritage and self-expression.
Misbah Fayaz, Director, Inspire Hub Central, commented:“This funding allows young people from marginalised backgrounds to explore the arts in ways that honour their identities, without having to conform to predefined boxes or expectations. It ensures that our young people can create, speak, and be seen on their own terms - free from judgement or fear.”
Calathea Arts, Chelmsley Wood for ‘Street Art Solihull’
Calathea Arts will launch Street Art Solihull, a creative storytelling programme for neurodiverse young people aged 16–25. Through eight workshops in poetry, spoken word and performance, participants will explore and respond to local street art. Interviews with artists and original soundscapes will culminate in a public audio-visual exhibition.
Ruth Mestel, Co-director, Calathea Arts, said:“This fund will greatly impact young neurodiverse people across the borough, giving them the opportunity to discover, explore, imagine and create untold stories behind local murals, tags and graffiti. We couldn’t be more delighted!”
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