The Third Sector Awards are one of the UK’s premier award programs for charities, voluntary organizations, and social enterprises. Hosted annually by Third Sector magazine, the program recognizes innovation, leadership, and outstanding achievements across over 30 categories, spanning excellence in digital innovation, fundraising campaigns, policy initiatives, and charity management
EduSpots has been shortlisted for the ‘Small Charity, Big Achiever’ Award! This recognition is awarded to an organisation with an income of less than £500,000 a year that has made a significant impact with its work.
Read the summary of the entry here:
Founded in response to a locked community library over a decade ago, EduSpots has grown from a single learning hub (“Spot”) in Abofour into a transformative, community-led education network directly reaching over 10,000 learners annually through 50 digitally enabled learning hubs across 13 regions of Ghana and Kenya. At its heart are 400 community leaders, known as “Catalysts”, who are supported through WhatsApp-based peer learning, the EduSpots App and structured leadership programmes.
In the last year alone, engagement across EduSpots’ Education Hub rose by 53%, spanning early years education, digital literacy, STEM and gender equity clubs. The organisation developed a three-stage leadership pathway and the Keeping Spots Safe safeguarding badge, laying the foundation for 50 additional communities to join the network, supported by findings from a 2025 independent evaluation validating the model’s impact.
Beyond its own network, EduSpots launched a Climate Education Community of Practice connecting NGOs across Ghana, alongside EduCitizens, a UNESCO-supported citizenship education network linking educators from 20 countries.
Despite its relatively small size, EduSpots has achieved extraordinary growth. Over the past two years, the organisation has tripled both its income and staff team, secured major funding and government partnerships, and earned international recognition as a 2025 Theirworld Education Innovation Award winner.
In its 10th anniversary year, EduSpots was selected for the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship and the Dovetail Impact Foundation’s Africa Accelerator, with 78% of Spot teams securing local funding or partnerships during this period. In 2026, the team are launching EduSpots Unlocked to share learnings.
EduSpots’ CEO/Founder, Cat Davison, has been shortlisted for the ‘Rising Chief Executive’ Award. This recognition is awarded to the chief executive who has made an outstanding contribution to his or her organisation, or the wider sector, during their first two years in post.
Read a summary of the entry here:
Cat Davison was appointed as CEO in 2024 following an open recruitment process, after nine years of voluntary leadership of EduSpots whilst also teaching full-time, during which time she was recognised as a $1 million Global Teacher Prize Finalist.
Since this official appointment, Cat has led the team through significant organisational growth through working collaboratively with 500 local change makers in Ghana, Kenya and globally to streamline and evaluate the unique “Spot” model, widely advocating for community-led approaches, and the power of digital networks and peer learning.
As a result, income has nearly quadrupled over three years, with Cat developing high-profile campaigns featured on BBC News, building several multi-year funding relationships, and with EduSpots selected for the highly competitive Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, Theirworld Education Innovation Award and the Dovetail Impact Foundation’s Accelerator Portfolio, with Cat selected as a UNESCO Youth for Peace Young Leader and building government relationships.
Cat has strengthened a values-driven people model, growing from a small part-time team to a values-aligned staff team of 22, with 40% recruited from the grassroots network, progressing through peer mentor pathways. As a result, programme engagement has tripled, with 50 Spots across 12 regions reaching 10,000 learners annually. An independent evaluation validated EduSpots’ theory of change, with strong evidence of literacy and citizenship outcomes, with the team launching EduSpots Unlocked to share learnings and connect with partners.
Despite navigating challenges, including chronic fatigue syndrome, Cat leads with unshakable optimism and a deep commitment to equitable and inclusive education.
All those shortlisted for the awards are found on the Third Sector Awards website here. For more information about EduSpots’ work, contact Cat Davison on info@eduspots.org.
