ACT – Ardonagh Community Trust – lies at the very heart of The Ardonagh Group’s story. As Ardonagh’s independent charity, ACT is the green thread that connects the Group’s 12,000+ colleagues and the communities its businesses work alongside right across the globe. As part of Ardonagh, MDS Group is part of a collective mission to make a difference, with no action too small to leave a lasting impact for good. Since 2017, ACT has been committed to changing lives to create better brighter and stronger futures for all, through community grants, charity partnerships, volunteering and supporting the inspiring fundraising efforts of colleagues for the causes closest to their hearts.

The first act

Every story has a beginning. ACT’s opening chapter connects to a moment of tragedy and everlasting change for a family and a community.

In May 2017, a bombing at Manchester Arena in the UK led to the loss of 22 innocent people.

At this time, Ardonagh was yet to be launched, but the leadership team felt compelled to act. The decision was made to temporarily pause the creation of the business to establish a platform to respond to the tragedy and to give back into the future.

And so, ACT was born – a charity accessible to all Ardonagh people worldwide.

And at the very heart of all of this is one girl. Eilidh.

A passionate pipe player, a member of a small island community, and a 14-year-old girl – Eilidh came from a small island in Scotland and was the niece of an Ardonagh colleague, Margaret.

Eilidh’s life was lost at the Manchester Arena bombing, but her memory remains bright. Her spirit and story fuelled the early days of the Trust, with the first ACT grant funding musical instruments at Eilidh’s school.

Doing good is greater when we do it together

Over the past nine years, ACT has evolved to give back bigger and better, but always with an unchanging commitment to rallying behind the causes that matter most to Ardonagh people – small and large, near and far.

£8+ million donated to date by ACT together with Ardonagh businesses, colleagues and supported

1,000+ causes Supported around the world, all connected to our people

As part of a global group, ACT has established far-reaching connections – and while there is diversity in causes, beneath lies a united spirit. From wellbeing services to accessible sport. Cancer care to green spaces. Youth clubs to homelessness outreach. The initiatives supported are varied, but at their core is a common aspiration for positive change.

Case Studies

Young Parkies Portugal

Grants in action

Young Parkies Portugal aims to raise awareness and improve support for people affected by early-onset Parkinson’s disease. The charity has an array of programmes, including yoga sessions, online talks hosted by experts, and even a climbing project to provide new ways to help physical therapy.

After a nomination by MDS colleague, Gustavo, ACT awarded a £5,000 grant to fund three key projects – the charity’s annual conference event, a series of community and exercise activities, and psychological support to help people navigate the wellbeing challenges of Parkinson’s.

Projeto Grão de Areia Brazil

A kickabout to catalyse change

For many young people in the Rio de Janeiro, life outside the favela can feel beyond imagining, but belief in possibilities is what Projeto Grão de Areia is all about.

Their community-focused beach football clubs provide an inclusive opportunity for girls and boys to enjoy free lessons in a safe and welcoming environment, with the firm belief that sport can act as a catalyst for positive social change.

Thanks to an ACT community grant of £5,000, the charity expanded to a new location on Copacabana beach, and taking their annual impact to over 600 children.

Begin small, but believe big

A proud catalyst for passion projects and community endeavours, through the Bright Future Prize, ACT empowers the next generation of community leaders.

59 young people supported through Bright Future Prize since 2021

£250,000 invested in their inspiring ideas for community projects

Now in its fifth year, the prize has supported young people from nine countries around the world – pledging belief in a future fuelled by young entrepreneurs with ambitions for good.

Fuelling bright ideas

Marta Bernardino: a robot called Trovador 

With a lifelong love of mechanics and electronics, Bright Future Prize winner Marta secured funding in 2025 with her project, Trovador (minstrel, in english), an autonomous hexapod robot that plants trees in rural and isolated areas affected by deforestation. 

Having prototyped the design, the Bright Future funding enabled Marta to build a full-scale 1m³ model and lead a pilot study planting 1,000 seedlings at Mafra National Park. 

Anna Dias: everyone matters

In 2022, Anna entered Bright Future Prize determined to make a difference to the mental health and wellbeing of young people just like her growing up in the local communities of Rio de Janeiro.

Having reached the shortlist, Anna secured a £5,000 grant from ACT to help her get her project off the ground. The funds enabled Anna to host events for teens, get support from a psychological professional and reach more young people in her school and beyond.

Anna has gone on to become a member of the MDS Brasil team, securing an internship position – but still continues her passion project in mental health through her social project, “You Matter” (“Você Importa”).

Never standing still

Journeys in spirit or in distance, throughout our history ACT has proudly rallied behind the fundraising efforts of individuals and teams.

A proud example of this is the Ride4Life cycling challenge. Founded in 2016, the tenth anniversary ride in 2026 took the team to beyond £100,000 raised for causes ranging from mental health to cancer care.

Having begun in the UK, the ride has gone on to travel to countries across Europe – always putting feet to pedals to raise vital funds.

In 2024, colleagues from across Ardonagh and MDS Group donned Lycra to take on a 72-mile route in Cascais in support of a newly formed charity, MovSaúde, in aid of its work to support those affected by colorectal cancer.

As we go forward, we’ll always give back

Our annual global fundraising day, Give Back, is an incredible opportunity for our colleagues, no matter their business or country, to unite in the spirit of doing good.

Each year sees a fresh take on the event, but the intention remains the same – to give back by whatever means. 2026 marks Give Back’s tenth anniversary. Taking place on Thursday 5 November, once again we will join together to create impact.

£1M raised since our inaugural Give Back event

13,700 items donated for hospices, foodbanks, gift drives and more

350+ charities supported all chosen by the people of Ardonagh

How ACT makes a difference year-round

Through our funding pillars, ACT is here day in day out to support all Ardonagh colleagues – no matter business or location – to support the causes that matter most to them.

Community grants

Through our quarterly grant programme, colleagues can nominate a charity with a project in need of funding for up to £5,000 (equivalent local currency).

Match funding

If a colleague is taking part in a fundraising challenge, ACT will boost their total by up to £500 (equivalent local currency).

All colleagues have one paid day of volunteering leave to donate time and skills to a chosen cause.

Charity partnerships

Across Ardonagh, we unite behind a common cause, currently our global partner, international humanitarian charity, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

Discover more about ACT 

• Access all funding programmes via the ACT Engage hub 
• Visit the ACT website ardonaghtrust.org 
• Follow on Instagram @ardonaghct 
• Contact the team info@ardonaghtrust.org