Case Study: Bright Futures
Awarded Organisation: Bright Futures UK
Beneficiary Focus: Bringing AI Skills to Young People Facing Health Challenges
Mentor: Darya Motornova
Overview
Bright Futures UK (BFUK) was founded to address a critical gap in support for young people aged 5–24 whose education is disrupted by long-term physical or mental health conditions. Through personalised programmes—including online tutoring, mentoring, befriending, and in-hospital workshops—BFUK supports young people to stay connected to learning and maintain confidence in their futures.
However, beyond academic disruption, many of these young people also face digital exclusion. Limited access to technology and emerging skills such as AI literacy risks widening an already significant inequality gap.
The Challenge
Young people supported by BFUK often experience:
Interrupted education due to long-term illness
Social isolation and reduced peer interaction
Anxiety about future education and career opportunities
Limited access to digital tools and emerging technologies
In hospital settings especially, access to meaningful, future-focused digital learning opportunities is often minimal. This creates a compounding disadvantage—where those already excluded from traditional education are also excluded from the skills shaping tomorrow’s world.
The Solution
With support from AI for All, BFUK is embedding AI and digital skills into its in-hospital workshop programme.
This initiative combines:
Access to technology – Providing Dell Inspiron 14 laptops to enable hands-on, interactive learning
Expert mentorship – Delivering high-quality AI sessions directly to young people, while also building internal staff confidence to teach these skills
Together, this dual approach ensures that both immediate delivery and long-term sustainability are achieved.
Workshops are designed to be engaging, accessible, and adaptable to individual needs. Activities include:
Understanding the basics of how AI works
Creating simple programs
Exploring AI-generated music and creative tools
Using digital platforms for self-expression and learning
The Impact
This project is transforming access to digital education for young people in hospital settings:
Bridging the digital divide – Laptops provide consistent access to technology where it is often unavailable
Building future-ready skills – Introducing AI literacy in an inclusive, supportive environment
Boosting confidence and creativity – Helping young people explore new ways to learn and express themselves
Creating lasting change – Embedding digital skills into BFUK’s ongoing weekly workshops
By making AI and digital learning a regular feature, not a one-off experience, BFUK is ensuring that young people facing the greatest barriers are not left behind.
Looking Ahead
This partnership marks an important step toward reducing inequality in access to emerging technologies. With the right tools and support, young people affected by long-term health conditions can not only stay connected to education but also gain the skills and confidence to shape their futures.
Bright Futures UK continues to work toward a world where every young person—regardless of circumstance—has the opportunity to thrive in education and beyond.