# Amazon Literary Partnership offers funds to literary organisations

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2025/11/17/amazon-literary-partnership-offers-funds-for-2026/
- Published: 2025-11-17T09:28:23+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The Amazon Literary Partnership is inviting applications for its next round of
grants to literary organisations “that inspire and champion writers across the UK
and Republic of Ireland”.**

This year it has supported 38 literary groups across the UK and Republic of Ireland,
the most recipients in a single year. Beneficiaries included organisations that 
support writers of all ages and stages, such as those dedicated to building confidence
through creativity, amplifying underrepresented voices, and inspiring communities
through the written word.

## New recipient for 2025

![Cheltenham Literature Festival logo](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2025/
11/cheltenham-literature-festival-logo.png)

**Cheltenham Festivals** was a new partner in this year’s funding round. It received
funding for its Write Now mentorship programme.

## Advertisement

Aimed at supporting young people in the South West who have been permanently excluded
from mainstream schools and are at risk of engaging with the criminal justice system,
the programme has been working to connect people and communities through words and
stories, offering writing mentors to help develop young people’s confidence and 
voice through creative expression.

Each workshop is designed to amplify underrepresented voices, help young people 
tell their stories, and empower them to thrive.

**Sarah Cooksley**, Head of Learning and Participation** **at Cheltenham Festivals
said: 

> “Through the support of the Amazon Literary Partnership, we’ve been able to shine
> a light on the stories that too often go unheard. Our recent work exploring school
> exclusions and their impact on young people’s wellbeing, opportunity and sense
> of belonging has shown just how powerful creative expression can be in rebuilding
> confidence and connection”.

## Graffiti Theatre’s funding

![Write Club book launch at Graffiti Theatre](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/
2025/11/write-club-graffiti-theatre.jpg)

Write Club book launch at Graffiti Theatre

**Graffiti Theatre Company** was one of the first organisations in Ireland to benefit
from the Partnership’s funding, since its expansion to the Republic of Ireland in
2024.

This year the Cork-based theatre company expanded its Creative Writing programme
to offer “free, fun, and engaging workshops” in English and Irish to schools across
the city and county through its partnership with Fighting Words, another organisation
that has received support from the Amazon Literary Partnership. These sessions help
young people explore their imagination and express themselves through writing.

**Ann Marie O’Sullivan**, Creative Writing Coordinator at Graffiti Theatre Company
said:

> “The grant from the Amazon Literary Partnership has been transformative for our
> creative writing programme here at Graffiti. It has enabled us to offer free creative
> writing workshops in English and Irish, that spark creativity and confidence in
> classrooms and from our theatre here in Blackpool. The funding has also meant 
> we could fulfil a long-held dream to launch Write Club — our weekly space where
> teenagers come together to write, share, and find their voice”.

## How to apply

[Applications for 2026 grants](https://apply.amazonliterarypartnership.co.uk/submit)
are being accepted until **30th January 2026**. Grant recipients will be notified
in May 2026.

Due to the volume of requests, “Amazon is unable to respond personally to each inquiry,
nor provide guidance on applications”.

## Who is eligible?

Applicants must be a registered nonprofit organisation in the United Kingdom or 
Republic of Ireland, whose core mission is “to develop emerging writers, support
diversity, celebrate storytelling, and/or build authors’ careers”. Organisations“
should be structurally and financially sound”. They should “display energy, passion,
and reach; have an online presence and an enthusiastic membership or readership”.