GOLD
Coventry Building Society: Better Futures
Better Futures is a series of targeted programmes developed with teachers, education experts and youth workers to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Coventry.
Our mission is to help level the playing field for those growing up in poverty by providing essentials like food and clothing, while opening doors to brighter futures. Through educational support and exposure to diverse careers, we aim to raise aspirations and broaden horizons.
But we don’t stop at what’s possible – we’re committed to creating clear, tangible pathways to success. Each year, we explore new ways to empower young people and drive long-term social mobility.
Since 2022, we’ve invested nearly £2.2 million and contributed over 8,000 hours of colleague volunteering, helping more than 34,000 children and young people. In the past year alone, over 11,600 children reported meaningful progress – gaining confidence, building skills, and expanding their sense of what’s achievable for their future.
SILVER
The Opentree Foundation: Scaling Play-Based Learning for Holistic Development of at-risk children in India
Lack of learner-centred pedagogies and life skills education are a critical gap in under-resourced, low-income schools. Our programmes bridge this gap by transforming students’ learning experiences and opportunities for skill development.
The Opentree Foundation impacts 1,50,000 children and 7,500+ teachers from 500+ schools in Maharashtra, India, through its flagship project Toybank. Toybank’s programmes support these teachers and schools to provide play-integrated learning experiences that are learner-focused, joyful, and build cognitive and behavioural skills like critical thinking, resilience, creativity, problem-solving.
Quality teaching-learning materials: Providing quality play material kits to each of our 500+ partner schools.
Optimised learning experiences: Facilitating skills-focused, grade-wise play sessions for students in these schools.
Improved teaching practices: Professional development of teachers to adopt play-integrated pedagogical practices.
BRONZE
Digit<all>: Digital Education for All
Digit<all> equips underserved learners with the digital skills to tackle real climate challenges – and the confidence to see themselves in green, tech-driven futures. Through initiatives like Coding for Climate Action and EcoCode, young people design and build practical tech solutions – from flood warning systems to solar-powered irrigation – using tools like the BBC micro:bit. Over 579,000 learners and 11,600+ educators have taken part. We train teachers and community leaders to deliver inclusive, climate-focused digital education themselves – embedding long-term impact well beyond our direct delivery. Designed with equity at its core, all programmes are free, flexible and co-created with schools and local partners. Learners report increased coding confidence, STEM identity and climate-career intent. With new hubs underway across the UK, resources now used in national CPD, and EU- and UN-level influence, we’re scaling fast – and helping to define what inclusive, future-ready education can look like.
ONE-TO-WATCH
Bright Futures UK: Educational Empowerment for Hospitalised Youth
Bright Futures UK transforms long-term hospital stays for young people by offering tailored, skill-based educational workshops. These sessions, covering crafts, STEM, CV writing, and mindfulness, are designed to enhance well-being and foster learning. Delivered in NHS hospitals, our workshops have already benefited over 300 young patients facing significant health challenges in 2024 alone, helping to promote creativity, social connection, and resilience.
To support continued engagement, the programme also includes ‘Learn it Yourself’ packs. Evaluations reveal that our efforts have resulted in increased confidence (90%), reduced isolation (60%), and higher patient satisfaction (80%).
These workshops are co-developed with healthcare professionals to ensure therapeutic value, reflecting Bright Futures UK’s commitment to inclusivity, innovation, and long-term impact. Our initiative is both sustainable and scalable, leveraging volunteer expertise to ensure a high return on investment.