Backing the next chapter of our Bright Future Alumni
Since 2021, ACT has hosted the Bright Future Prize – a dedicated means to support inspirational young people from around the world on a mission to make a difference.
To date, the prize has invested £250,000 in nearing 60 aspiring community leaders – representing nine countries across the globe and who form our Alumni network.
Bright Future Prize has always been about more than funding alone, with our Alumni joining a network of peer support and regular virtual sessions to connect with each other no matter location – sharing experiences, advice and contacts.
However, with this year marking the fifth anniversary of the opportunity, it felt like a fantastic chance for ACT to offer a special additional fund alongside the 2026 edition of the prize to empower the ongoing development of our Alumni.
Taking the next step
Open to all our Alumni from 2021 to 2025, the ‘Next Step’ fund provided the chance for former winners, finalists and grant recipients to achieve a share of £10,000, to invest in their project proposal – whether a continuation of an original bright idea, a spin-off, or a new project that aims to do good fuelled by our alumni’s experience since.
We were delighted to receive submissions from alumni representing a range of years and countries – truly mirroring the evolution of the prize since its inception.
The quality of the project proposals did immense justice to the caliber of our alumni and their range of interests, skills and passions – with submissions ranging from docu-films to capture the social impact of data centres to new technology to improve access to emergency healthcare in rural regions.
Congratulations
After much deliberation, our ACT Trustees selected the two deserving winners of the Next Step fund, who are each awarded £5,000 to invest in their projects.
Many congratulations are extended to…
Jarvis Rohr
Torbay, UK
Having taken the ‘Your Passion’ category in 2025, Jarvis has relentlessly pursued his ambitions to harness music as a means to elevate the aspirations of young people in and around his hometown of Torbay in Devon, UK.
In close collaboration with Sound Communities CIC, Jarvis has been pivotal in many of the charity’s youth initiatives – from its very own record label to career development in the music scene. For many, Sound Communities CIC provides an incredible alternative pathway for young people struggling with mental health, addiction or navigating other challenges with immeasurable impact.
Using the initial funds from ACT, Jarvis has spearheaded TorVYBZ, a totally youth-led music festival and first of its kind in the local area. Platforming local and emerging artists, from within Sound Communities and beyond, as well as providing the chance for ‘behind the scenes’ roles from sound engineering to festival planning – the festival is more than one of performance, it’s a means for young people to be seen, be heard, and take their first steps in the industry, whether that’s at the mic or backstage.
This sentiment is at the heart of Jarvis’s winning proposal, which is all about extending the ripple effect of TorVYBZ to create long-lasting impact. The ‘Creative Pathways Blueprint’ will provide a framework to extend the festival itself into a year-round programme to develop young people with dreams of working in the world of music. Alongside making the event itself an annual showcase, spinning out from it will be a long-term suite of mentorship, skills development, career support and production – which members of Sound Communities and beyond can get involved in.
We can’t wait to catch up with Jarvis at TorVYBZ 2026 when the first festival takes place on 18 July, and to see it evolve over the years ahead.
Kanishk Aggarwal
Sydney, Australia
Kanishk epitomises entrepreneurial spirit. Often found at the soldering bench, his passion for bringing together engineering with healthcare application is unstoppable.
After winning the Your Vision category in 2025, Kanishk turned his concept for a smart diagnostic fabric monitoring vital health signals into a tangible technology in a matter of months.
From there it was straight into his next innovation, a wireless EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) device to help therapists treat patients with psychological conditions including PTSD, which is now in the market in Australia and New Zealand.
His rapid upskilling shows no sign of slowing down and Kanishk’s winning idea introduces Myodot, a wearable device which tracks neuromuscular activity to support people with a range of conditions that affect mobility, including Cerebral Palsy.
Currently in its early stages of prototyping, the funding will enable Kanishk to accelerate its build and testing so it can reach healthcare professionals sooner. Ultimately, Myodot will enable clinicians and patients to monitor recovery in real-time to ensure rehabilitation treatment is as effective as possible.
Alongside funding, through Bright Future Prize ACT seeks further ways to support our Alumni into the future, whether that be through mentoring, apprenticeship opportunities or connections across our businesses who can support their projects.
Even better, our Alumni are incredible cheerleaders and sources of inspiration for one another, and even collaborators.
We can’t wait to host our next virtual Alumni event, with the winners of the 2026 prize also in attendance.
Stay connected with Bright Future Prize and ACT
Learn more about Bright Future Prize on the ACT website, including the 2026 winners, plus explore the stories and projects of Bright Future Prize Alumni since 2021 on the dedicated page.
Follow ACT on Instagram and Facebook @ardonaghct
Contact the ACT team using info@ardonaghtrust.org
