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Behind the Retrospective – A closer look : community spirit

In June, ACT unveiled its first ever exhibition – ACT: A Retrospective – showcasing the stories, people and impact behind our Group charity over the past eight years.

No matter where you are around the world, you can explore exhibition in using the virtual tour – before a capsule version travels the world over 2026 to visit as many Ardonagh sites and events as possible.

At the heart of ACT is community. In our final piece looking into the elements of the ACT: A Retrospective, take a look at how art, charities and relationships brought this to life throughout the exhibition – including our gallery wall, the creation of a live painting, and some of the causes that make a difference day in, day out.

Capturing ACT : a gallery of community connections

Gracing the far end of the Retrospective exhibition was a spectacle of community art – all donated by causes and people connected to ACT. Each contributor had their own story, but all come back to the central sense of community spirit which unites us all.

Our community art wall featured photos, prints, or bespoke pieces of art.

We were overwhelmed by the number of charities and people who donated to our art wall, whether with photos, prints, or bespoke pieces of art.

Including… a rainbow of handprints from a primary school ACT had provided funding; crochet art created a by a woman supported by Glasshouse CIC – helping women who have been in prison; acrylic painting done by a Portuguese charity ACT got behind thanks to colleagues at MDS Group; artwork by Ella Dawson, whose foundation in her memory helps young people affected by cancer; photo collages of young people in Brazil that have benefitted from community charities Projeto Social Luz e Paz; and even a handball shirt from Perth Parrots in Scotland.

Minutes created by Ella Dawson
Other by Ella Dawson. Ella is remembered by the foundation named after her. Both these works were featured on the wall, with Ella's family attending the launch event.

Jane’s daughter, Ella, was completing a degree in fine art when she became ill. Her work continues to be a part of the charity, which helps young people affected by cancer, and we were proud to have two of Ella’s abstract pieces on display. An ACT grant furthered the foundation's programme of wellbeing support for young people and their families.

It was incredibly moving to see Ella’s artwork featured as part of the Community Art Wall at the ACT: A Retrospective exhibition. For our family and the Ella Dawson Foundation, it meant so much to be included in such a powerful event that celebrates community, purpose and creativity. We are deeply grateful to ACT for their support and for giving Ella’s voice and her vision a platform through her art.
Jane Dawson, Ella Dawson Foundation
Photography also made an appearance of the gallery wall, including this photo of young dancers at Projeto Social Luz e Paz in Rio de Janeiro where an ACT grant enabled a new programme of ballet sessions to be added to the charity's offering for disadvantaged young people.
The ACT funded ballet classes at Light and Peace opened the opportunity for our community to act and recognize the value of culture. Our children now have the right to experience new cultural expressions, which until then were restricted. ACT's support made a difference.
Márcio Leal, Projeto Social Luz e Paz (Light and Peace), Brazil
This beautiful bespoke painting flew all the way from Portugal to appear on the community art wall, representing Associação Crescer Bem which supports families whose children are being treated at at Hospital de Dona Estefânia in Lisbon.
When I learned we might contribute with an artwork for the ACT Retrospective event, I immediately thought we should do something about Crescer Bem, one of the very first charities who got an ACT Community grant after MDS joined The Ardonagh Group. Crescer Bem supports families from Portuguese speaking countries whose children are treated in Lisbon for serious medical conditions at the Estefânia paediatric hospital. We are close to this association because one of our colleagues is part of the Board – and they are amazing! When I reached out to my artist friends, they immediately embraced the idea of contributing to ACT with an image depicting this association. We were enthusiastic about having our artwork shown in the event and even more when we saw the photo of the beautiful art mural – a reminder of the amazing work Crescer Bem volunteers do every day. Thank you so much, ACT, for helping us and Crescer Bem make a better world for these children and their families!
Paula Rios, MDS Group, Portugal

A kaleidoscope of causes and colour alike, our gallery wall was a true highlight of the exhibition. As a much deserved thank you, our contributors were gifted a £250 donation towards their chosen cause, totalling over £3,000.

Community action: no matter where, no matter what

Outside, our commitment to community continued, as we welcomed our Group charity partner, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to join us on the lawns.

With truly international reach and impartiality at their core, MSF supports communities in more than 70 countries where other organisations cannot, or simply will not, go. Since 1971, MSF has been treating people caught in complex crises and chronic healthcare emergencies around the world.

MSF had a dedicated tent out on the lawns.
The tent shared details on MSF's work to support malnourished children around the world.

In their pop-up tent, we were grateful to be joined by members of the MSF team to shine a spotlight on their work to treat malnutrition, which affects over 232 million children worldwide and is the most common cause of death of children under five years old. To put this in perspective, Ardonagh’s fundraising for MSF to date - £160,000 – is enough to support 50,000 children affected by malnutrition. 

MSF UK was truly grateful to attend ACT: A Retrospective, having proudly partnered with ACT globally since 2024. It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many individuals who share a passion for giving back and a deep understanding of the medical humanitarian challenges faced by communities around the world. We deeply appreciate the ongoing, long-term support that enables us to provide lifesaving medical care in crises across more than 70 countries - including in conflict-affected areas such as Gaza and Sudan, where the needs are urgent and immense. Together, we hope to continue to make a meaningful impact in the lives of many—thank you.
Anthony Wright, Corporate Philanthropy Officer at MSF UK

We look forward to Give Back 2025, where together across Ardonagh we'll be aiming to reach our £250,000 target for MSF through our combine Give Back action on Friday 7 November.

On canvas : the essence of ACT

Over the course of the evening expressionist painter Ben Mosley, one of the UK’s leading live artists, created a piece of art capturing the essence of ACT. Harnessing Ben’s vibrant and dynamic approach, alongside his use of 24-carat gold and precious metals in his work, we hope you agree that the end result illustrates moments from ACT’s history in spectacular style.

Ben using gold leaf and his abstract style to create a live piece of art.
The finished work was auctioned for an incredible £100,000 towards ACT's work.

Look closely and you’ll notice element from our eight-year journey, including our beginnings creating a statue in memory of Eilidh MacLeod; cycling jerseys from the annual Ride4Life charity bike ride; supporting the build of the Daisy Lodge respite centre; and even cooking up breakfast at The Whitechapel Mission.

On the night, this fantastic original and 10 limited edition prints raised an incredible £150,000 for ACT in our auction. All of which will help us continue to give back to causes making a difference in communities around the world.

Watch the creation of the painting before your eyes using the video below.

Step inside the virtual tour

No matter where you are in the world, you can experience ACT: A Retrospective for yourself with our fully virtual tour. Accessible on desktop or mobile, walk through the showcase and interact with all the exhibits.

Retrospective gets ready to go global

The exhibition doesn’t stop here!

In 2026, ACT: A Retrospective will set off on its journey of key locations and events across The Ardonagh Group. Over the following the 12 months, this capsule version of the exhibition aims to reach as many colleagues and friends of the Group as possible.

For now, learn more about ACT by exploring our website and following us @ardonaghCT.