The Amazon Literary Partnership has announced the non-profit literary organisations to receive grants for 2023, as it continues striving to support and champion writers of all ages and stages on their creative journey. This year Amazon is supporting more organisations than ever before, with 35 organisations across the UK receiving grants.

Amazon Literary Partnership grants have been awarded to deserving groups since it began four years ago in the UK. The grant supports various non-profit writing centres and organisations who empower those from underrepresented communities to tell their own stories, and who offer opportunities to aspiring writers.

Championing diverse writers across the UK is so important, and adds so much value to the world of writing and creativity. We are so proud to be able to support all forms of writing, whether it’s for budding authors or people who simply find solace in creative writing.
Darren Hardy
Manager for UK Author and Editorial Programmes, Amazon.co.uk

This year’s grant recipients include continued relationships with a number of organisations such as National Centre for Writing, Arvon and Super Power Agency, as well as new groups including York Inspirational Kids, Sharing A Story CIC and Winchester Project.

Founded in 2015, York Inspirational Kids, one of the grant’s new recipients, will use the funding to help run Creative Writing and storytelling workshops for disabled young people, their siblings and families. The organisation started at working with 40 families and has grown to supporting over 2000 families in and around York.

On receiving the grant, Ruth Thompon, CEO of York Inspirational Kids said, “The funding we will receive through the Amazon Literary Partnership grant will be used in a number of ways from supporting autistic young people to produce an animation book for other autistic children; creative writing for parent carers to share their story through poetry, short stories and more; and producing a book written by parent carers for parent carers to help those who have just had a diagnosis for their child. We look forward to working closely with Amazon and helping our disabled young people and their parents have their voice heard through their own written words.”

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Members (York Inspirational Kids)

Receiving the grant for a second year, Fighting Words NI will continue to offer writing workshops to children and young writers aged 6 to 18. They have delivered hundreds of free Storymaking Workshops, Write Club Meetings and special projects, all supported by volunteer mentors.

Hilary Copeland, Director at Fighting Words NI commented on the impact the grant will have: “Fighting Words Northern Ireland is an arts education charity based in Belfast and working across NI. To flourish as individuals, young people need access to safe, creative learning spaces and activities where they can escape from their responsibilities for a few hours, have fun, dive into their imaginations and meet like-minded peers. Thanks to support from the Amazon Literary Partnership, we’ll be able to offer hundreds of children and young people more creative writing opportunities in the coming year.”

Copy of Fighting Words NI young writers meet Belfast Lord Mayor with Director Hilary Copeland
Children’s writing workshop (Fighting Words NI)

Amazon Literary Partnership is also proud to continue supporting Creative Future. Founded in 2007 in Brighton, Creative Future provides support for local writers who face barriers and lack opportunities—those with mental health issues, disabilities, neurodivergent, survivors, LGTBQIA+ and from working class and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Matt Fredison, Deputy Director at Creative Future said: “Our work includes the leading national competition for all underrepresented writers which attracts 1,300 entries annually and distributes £20,000 in development prizes from leading industry partners. We identify, nurture and showcase talent from new voices on the margins who are poorly served and unheard in the mainstream. Support from the Amazon Literary Partnership will enable us to pilot a new Regional Writers In Residence scheme. Two underrepresented, emerging writers will have dedicated writing time, and use non-traditional spaces, engage local people and deliver writing sessions in Liverpool and Darlington. This will bring the residency to the writer, in towns and with people who otherwise don’t have cultural/literary opportunities.”

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Writers event ( Creative Future) Photo credit: Jess Hand

Another organisation which is no stranger to the grant is New Writing North - a writing development agency based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 1996, the organisation has developed programmes and activities that inspire young people to engage with creative writing and reading, in a professional capacity as well as simply for pleasure and wellbeing.

Speaking on the support from Amazon Literary Partnership, Anna Disley, Executive Director (Programme and Impact) said: “We are so delighted to be supported by Amazon Literary Partnership. This funding will enable us to establish two new young writers groups in North Shields and Berwick upon Tweed, and to secure our Newcastle Group. Our network of Young Writers Groups provide young people in the north-east with invaluable peer and professional support to help them experience a range of writing influences and to develop their own voice. Amazon Literary Partnership has also supported our First Edition Group for 18-25 year olds interested in pursuing a cultural career. This will provide an invaluable pathway for young people in the north east, to pursue their cultural ambitions whilst staying in the region.”

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Children’s workshop (New Writing North)

“We are so excited and honoured to be supporting more organisations through the Amazon Literary Partnership for the fourth year.” commented Darren Hardy, Manager for UK Author and Editorial Programmes, Amazon.co.uk. “Championing diverse writers across the UK is so important, and adds so much value to the world of writing and creativity. We are so proud to be able to support all forms of writing, whether it’s for budding authors or people who simply find solace in creative writing.”

Complete List of Supported Organisations for 2023:

About the Amazon Literary Partnership

Building on the success of the previous three years, the Amazon Literary Partnership provides grants to UK literary organisations that empower a whole host of writers, no matter what age or stage they find themselves. In 2022, we supported a variety of literary groups, ranging from organisations that manage support writers at risk, to after school workshops, all the way through to organisations running their own literary festivals to champion local and diverse writers.

Applications for 2024 grants from the Amazon Literary Partnership will commence towards the end of this year.