EduSpots has been announced as the winner of the Small Charity, Big Achiever Award at the national UK Third Sector Awards 2026, on our very first time applying to UK charity awards!.
The awards, hosted at the London Hilton Hotel on 11 September, recognise the achievements of charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises across 31 categories. EduSpots was selected from thousands of entries across the UK.
What the judges said
The judges praised EduSpots for its work building literacy and numeracy skills across 13 regions of Ghana and Kenya, highlighting the organisation’s innovation and breadth of impact.
In their feedback, the panel described EduSpots as:
“A standout entry in terms of innovation and breadth of impact delivered by such a relatively small team. The ability to demonstrate measurable behavioural change is testament to a highly focused, clear strategy that has successfully supported sustained growth.”
A network built by local changemakers
EduSpots was born in 2015 through the actions of the Addae family in Abofour, who created a community-led education space built on local ownership, student leadership and practical learning.
Since then, over 450 local leaders known as Catalysts have come together to create and lead 52 community-owned learning hubs (Spots) across Ghana and Kenya. Through these Spots, more than 12,000 learners of all ages access future-ready learning each year, from digital skills and literacy to STEM, environmental action and gender equity.
A year of growing recognition
The Third Sector Award comes alongside a series of milestones in 2026:
- FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund: EduSpots selected as one of 31 organisations worldwide to receive a grant of up to $250,000
- Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship: selected as one of 12 Ghanaian EdTech organisations for equity-free funding and mentorship
- Theirworld Education Innovation Award: named one of 7 global winners in 2025
- Digital Champions Programme: 60 digital champions trained at Elmina Spot, accelerating digital learning across 52 communities
- Education Academy: community educators from 50 communities trained in inclusive, creative teaching methods at Akumadan
Cat Davison, EduSpots’ Founder and CEO, reflecting after the awards on how EduSpots’ model offers extraordinary value for money, said:
“Some schools raise £300,000 to fund one pupil’s education. That’s more than our entire annual income, through which we make a transformative impact with more than 12,000 learners and educators each year.”
This award belongs to every Catalyst, Spark, community member, staff member, and partner who makes the EduSpots network what it is.
To our funders and partners (Theirworld, Dovetail Impact Foundation, mc2h Foundation, FIFA, Global Citizen, MEST Africa, Mastercard Foundation, King Charles III Charitable Fund, Educational Opportunity Foundation, EA Foundation, Gratitude Network, Global Teacher Prize, Varkey Foundation, and Ghana Library Authority ), thank you for your belief in EduSpots’ model for igniting community-led education.