Calling teens with big dreams for the Bright Future Prize  

The search is on for the next generation of inspiring community leaders as Ardonagh Community Trust launches its £40,000 Bright Future Prize.  

Teens with big dreams have been asked to put forward their ideas for the Bright Future Prize, before Friday 29 April, to make a difference to the communities they care about.  

The prize, which is now in its second year, is hosted by Ardonagh Community Trust (ACT), the registered charity of one of the world’s leading insurance brokers, The Ardonagh Group. 

Winners of this year’s four prize categories will each receive a share of the £40,000 fund, alongside opportunities for mentoring, to help turn their dreams into reality.     

ACT Trustee and former British and Ireland Lions Captain Rory Best, described his delight at the prize’s launch and asked young people to step forward to help bring about the change they want to see in the world.  

He said: “I’m excited that applications for the Bright Future Prize 2022 are now officially open.  

“We want to hear from 13–19-year-olds about the incredible projects and causes they’re passionate about, so that we can help support their communities around the world.  

“I’m incredibly proud to be an ACT trustee and supporter of the Bright Future Prize and I can’t wait to read about young people’s big ideas to help shape a brighter future.” 

Last year, four talented individuals and groups were given the chance to drive positive change in their communities. Their projects ranged from, promoting anti-bullying messages and supporting teenagers to pursue musical ambitions, to encouraging young people living in areas of deprivation to apply to top universities.   

The winners of the Bright Future Prize 2021, a team of three teenagers from Manchester, were awarded the prize for their innovative project, developed as part of a project with Manchester’s Contact Theatre, to help young people to protect their mental health. Their proposed computer game – Dawn to the Light aims to support young people to find positive ways to learn about mental health.   

The Dawn to the Light Team encouraged young people to enter this year’s prize saying that the experience had helped them to feel empowered to help others.  

The team said: “The prize fund allowed our idea to go from an idea on a page to a soon-to-come project that will be a fully-fledged videogame.  

“It allowed us to explore our own individuals’ talents and helped us showcase them in the work we put together.  

“To anyone applying to the fund, you should approach the application with the passion that you already possess for the project.  You should never think an idea isn’t good enough or important enough and keep your mind optimistic.” 

This year, there are four prize categories, which are each linked to a different way young people can help improve their community of choice.   

The prize categories are:   

• Your community – Making a difference to the people around you   
• Your planet – Protecting the environment and taking a stand against climate change   
• Your vision – Driving positive change through entrepreneurship or innovation  
• Your passion – Sharing your love for music, the arts or sport with more people    

The prize is open to young people aged 13-19, who live a region where Ardonagh has a presence, including in the UK, Ireland, Australia, the United States, or South Africa. To apply, candidates – individually, or as a group – should propose a project or a cause close to their heart, and outline how they will use the funding to help make their community better, brighter, and stronger. Applications are open between 14 March and Friday 29 April.  To apply please visit: https://www.ardonaghtrust.org/bright-future-prize 

The Ardonagh Community Trust helps communities become better, brighter and stronger. Since the charity’s launch in 2017, it has raised more than £1.5 million for causes around the world.