Charity in Hull nominated for Best New Podcast

Mr Butler talks to guests about their experiences with addiction, recovery and stigma

A charity based in Hull is running against big names to be crowned 'Best New Podcast'.

The Believe in People podcast, run by ReNew in Beverley Road, has been nominated for the award by The Radio Academy.

Host Matthew Butler explores people's experiences of addiction, recovery and stigma in the podcast series.

It is up against eight other competitors in the 2024 ARIAS Awards, including Sony Music Entertainment and BBC Sounds.

With nearly 50 episodes, the podcast first began in 2022 and covers a wide range of topics, including substance misuse and mental health.

Guiding the guests with questions about their experiences, each episode discusses stages of recovery and how it is maintained.

Guests have included Michelle Heaton from Liberty X and Emma Hardy, MP for Hull West and Hessle.

The charity is based in Hull and supports anyone struggling with drugs and alcohol

Mr Butler, volunteer and community lead for ReNew charity, who hosts the podcast, started working for the charity nine years ago.

With no background in substance misuse himself, he said he was "quite naive" to the cause and complexities of it when he first started.

"People aren't necessarily using these substances directly as choice, it is a coping mechanism for years of trauma."

'Challenge the stigma'

"It's understanding that everybody has a story to tell and the podcast is a platform for people to tell those stories", he said.

He added: "In a way, the podcast can feel like a form of therapy for people.

"It is there to show that people aren't alone in these situations and showing how other people got through it."

Mr Butler said the podcast did not set out to win any awards, but to "spread messages of recovery and challenge the stigma".

"For me, we are just doing what we're doing. The fact it is getting recognition is wonderful," he said.

Entries for the 2024 ARIAS Awards have closed and all the nominations for each category have been chosen.