Creating connections and change through our first ever ACT Bright Future Prize Alumni event
Creating a brighter world is at the heart and centre of ACT’s mission and our Bright Future Prize aims to do just that by empowering the next generation of community leaders – investing in passionate young people determined to make a difference to the world and people around them.
First launched three years ago in 2021, the Bright Future Prize searches the world for young people with their own bright ideas for projects that aim to create positive change. Since then, the prize has grown beyond our hopes, reaching across the globe, and so too our community of Bright Future Alumni has developed to over 30 young stars.
- 30+ Alumni, our winners and finalists from the past three years of the Bright Future Prize.
- 7 countries, around the world represented by our Alumni – Australia, Brazil, Ireland Portugal, South Africa, UK and the USA.
- £110,000+ invested in the bright ideas of our Alumni to help them turn their community projects into a reality.
Our first ever Alumni event
On Saturday 13 July, we were delighted to bring our finalists and winners from 2021–2024 together through our first ever Bright Future Prize Alumni event. Our alumni were welcomed by the ACT team alongside representatives from the ACT Trustee board – to meet one another, hear about one another’s bright ideas, and share experiences.
The Bright Future Prize was launched in the memory of Freddie Williams, the son of Ardonagh colleague David and his wife Sarah, who sits on the ACT board as an independent trustee. In 2015, aged seven, Freddie was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. When Freddie died four years later, together with the Williams family, the concept for Bright Future Prize was first formed. Sarah and David are part of our judging panel and have played a role in the prize’s journey every step of the way.
Also welcoming our Alumni was, Employee Representative to the ACT Board and MDS Portugal Director, Paula Rios. Newer to Ardonagh, Paula has dived into world of ACT since joining the board in 2023 and is a passionate advocate of the prize.
Over the event, our Alumni got to connect and speak to another – with plenty of conversation and discovering shared connections and passions. Whether Alumni were from the first iteration of the prize in 2021, or this year’s cohort, all had developed their bright ideas and shared what they’d done next and learned along the way.
Our Alumni also took the opportunity to contribute to the evolution of the next Bright Future Prize. With valuable insights and reflections, their input will ensure the prize keeps developing to best reach and support even more young people in years to come.
Here’s a snapshot of some of our amazing Alumni to showcase how they have taken their bright ideas to the next level since first entering the prize…
- 2021 winners, teen trio, Dawn to the Light – Demereece, Aaliyah and Ahtasham – turned their concept for a video game to support mental health into production and launched it in Manchester.
- Three years after being a finalist, Grace Harman, has graduated in Classical Trumpet Performance and is pursuing her playing career as well as continuing to volunteer to inspire young people to access music.
- 2022 winner, Kaydi Scottsville, self-founded charity, Diversified, was named Scottish Charity of the Year in light of her work to provide support to neurodivergent teens and their families.
- Just two months after received a Bright Future Grant in 2024, Tshepiso in South Africa has established a community library and computer facility, already used by 200+ local people.
- Chloe McCormick and her Code Green team reached the final of the 2024 Victoria Young Achievers Awards in Australia in recognition of her project leading climate change coding workshops for young people.
This is just some of our brilliant Bright Future stars, so make sure to learn about all our winners and finalists to date on the Bright Future Prize page of our website.
This won't be the last Alumni event, as we plan to host another towards the end of the year to enable our Bright Future winners and finalists to continue sharing and learning from each other.
Bright Future will be back!
The Bright Future Prize will be returning. Look out on our website and socials towards the end of the year, when we’ll be getting set to launch.
We can’t wait to discover more young people and future Alumni then! In the meantime, visit the Bright Future Prize page to learn more about the prize.
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