Ardonagh Community Trust looks to teens for bright ideas for the future

The Ardonagh Group’s charitable arm, Ardonagh Community Trust (ACT), has launched a new funding stream, targeting teens with big dreams for their communities.

The Bright Future Prize aims to find the next generation of community leaders, charity fundraisers, blue-sky thinkers or social good activists. With a main prize of £20,000 and smaller grants available for the best community-changing ideas, winners will also get support to put their projects and plans into action.

In the three years since its launch, ACT has given over £500,000 to charities and community organisations close to its offices nominated by Ardonagh employees. These have supported period dignity boxes, accessible playgrounds, kids’ sports programmes, community events, and cancer care packages. It’s also given £200,000 to the mental health charity Mind. 

CEO of Ardonagh and ACT Trustee David Ross explains: “The Bright Future Prize is the first funding stream that ACT has launched to those outside The Ardonagh Group. Our mission is to make communities bigger, brighter and stronger and I’m increasingly conscious that all the really great new ideas, angles, and empathy are coming from young people. They are also one of the groups hardest hit by the pandemic.

“We wanted to do something for young people to let their ideas shine, to help them learn and hone their skills, and support them to make a difference where they see it’s really needed in their communities.

“It could be a great idea for a social enterprise supporting a charitable cause, a community project, a fundraising drive, or maybe even someone who wants to further their education and make a difference with what they’ve learned.

“This is the first year of our prize, and we want to see where it will take us. Personally, I can’t wait to see the bright ideas for the future as they come in.”

The Bright Future Prize is open to young people aged 15-19 years old from the UK and Ireland and entries close on Friday 21 May.

Find out more about ACT and the Bright Future Prize at ardonaghtrust.org/bright-future-prize.