Audible invests over £70,000 in Future Stories Fund

Three grassroots organisations supporting young storytellers across Yorkshire & Humber awarded funding as initiative expands internationally following UK success

Tribe Arts Associate Artist Saju Ahmed performs a live show

Audible, a leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, today announced the recipients of its 2026 Future Stories Fund, awarding more than £70,000 in grants and capacity-building support to three grassroots organisations across the Yorkshire & Humber region. 

The grants will support three local organisations working with young people from historically marginalised communities in delivering creative storytelling projects across the region. 

Leeds-based organisation Tribe Arts will launch a three-month spoken word programme engaging 20 young people from Black, Asian and Global Majority communities in 12 spoken word workshops, culminating in a public showcase of original work. 

Bradford charity South Square Centre will run an eight-month storytelling programme for 15 girls, transforming familiar local spaces into live performance experiences that culminate in a community “story map” of Allerton. 

The award-winning York-based theatre company Next Door But One CIC will deliver its Next Gen Men programme for boys aged 11-16, using theatre, movement and audio storytelling to create podcasts, spoken word performances and youth-led audio resources that build confidence, creativity and emotional wellbeing.

Building on the success of last year's programme, the Future Stories Fund has grown in 2026, increasing the total value of support from £40,000 to over £70,000. As well as grant funding, each recipient will now benefit from £10,000 worth of bespoke capacity-building consultancy to help maximise the long-term impact of their work.

Alongside its continued investment in the UK, Audible will also expand the Future Stories Fund initiative internationally to youths in Mexico City later this year, bringing the programme to new communities and helping even more young people discover the power of audio storytelling.

The announcement follows the publication of Audible’s Social Impact Report, which highlights the impact of the Future Stories Fund across the UK. In 2025, the programme funded four community projects, reaching 96 young people through more than 530 hours of creative programming spanning podcast creation, playwriting, radio and film production, songwriting, audiobook development and local journalism.

The programme delivered strong outcomes, with 91 per cent of participants reporting they now believe more in their own potential, 84 per cent saying they are better able to express themselves through words and language, and 80 per cent feeling more positive about their future opportunities and choices.

Audible's Tiffany Jackson

Tiffany Jackson, Head of Social Innovations at Audible, said:                   

“Every young person has a story worth telling, but not everyone has the same opportunity to tell it. Through the Future Stories Fund, we’re proud to support organisations that are creating spaces for young people to build confidence, develop creative skills and share their voices. Over the years this programme has already had a meaningful impact across the UK, and we’re excited to build on that success by continuing to increase our investment in the UK and expanding the programme internationally to communities in Mexico.”

The Future Stories Fund forms part of Audible’s wider commitment to creating positive social impact through storytelling. According to Audible’s 2025 Social Impact Report, the company invested $3.3 million across 27 social impact programmes in 12 countries during 2025, positively impacting more than 1,000 young people and supporting 660 emerging creators worldwide.

In the UK, the Future Stories Fund sits alongside other Audible social impact programmes, including Barbican Young Poets, led by acclaimed poet Jacob Sam-La Rose, which provides year-long creative mentoring for young poets from historically marginalised communities, and The Power of Voice, delivered in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, helping students develop confidence, communication skills and self-belief through creative writing and storytelling.