Daniel is Cycling from London to Brighton in June

Aim: I am cycling from London to Brighton this June, supporting The Andy Taylor Foundation and their innovative Bursary Scheme

And Taylor was one of the most genuine, warm, kind and brilliant people I knew in the TV and digital media business.   

He was an absolute visionary founding Little Dot Studios more than 10 years ago, and a top class entrepreneur building it into one of the largest and fastest growing digital media enterprises in the UK anticipating the central role YouTube would play in the future of the entertainment industry.  

I was privileged and proud to have him as a friend for over 20 years, a beautiful soul who was a constant source of advice, encouragement and positivity in my life.  

His untimely death from Brain Cancer nearly 5 years ago was a huge shock and hit me and his many friends hard. We still miss him dearly.   

When his wife Lara set up the Andy Taylor Foundation  in his memory to help people from less advantaged backgrounds break into the digital media industry, I really wanted to help.

Later this month (on June 21st) I will be cycling from London to Brighton along with a group of Andy’s friends and former colleagues to raise money for the Foundation (even though I’m no longer a spring chicken, and it’s been 20 years since I lasted attempted something like this).

I’m hoping to raise at least £1000 for what is a brilliant cause.  The foundation now runs bursary programmes through the Royal Television Society that have already helped scores of people who don’t have the means to get their first break in the business.

Andy never forgot where he came from, or forgot how few people from where he came from got chances like him, and how transformative education and access can be.  He was a true inspiration, which has makes this charity bike ride so meaningful for me.

If you’d be up for sponsoring me for whatever you can afford I would be incredibly grateful.  It will be going to a brilliant cause and any support would mean a lot.

Andy Taylor Foundation Digital Innovation Bursaries 

Andy was a digital pioneer and co-founder of Little Dot Studios (acclaimed digital business). Andy wanted others to enjoy the career he loved. The Andy Taylor Foundation is therefore joining the Royal Television Society’s Digital Innovation bursary panel. We will support provision of bursaries to deserving University students from lower-income backgrounds, who are passionate about forging a career in digital media. Working alongside the Royal Television Society (RTS), the Andy Taylor Foundation (ATF) will: 

• Market new ATF Digital scholarships to key higher education institutions, student bodies and outreach communities 
• Assist in the selection of future Digital Innovation (“DI”) bursary recipients, with the RTS and other partner organisations 
• Create a bespoke programme of digital media masterclasses, focusing on skills needed for premium digital content creation and distribution (social platforms, branded content, the creator economy, monetisation and more) 
• Create a bespoke programme of relevant soft skills support (imposter syndrome, “My story”, pitching, interview skills etc) complementing fantastic broader RTS sessions 
• Offer our digital first content not only to this year’s DI bursary recipients, but also former DI students and potentially the whole RTS bursary network (373 students to date)
• Introduce our “digital first” industry contacts for student networking and mentorship, further boosting the phenomenal network of RTS members and contacts
• Contribute to the incredible 10 day, all expenses paid “Summer Tour” offered to DI students. Joining Apple TV+, STV and a host of industry names, we will craft an additional experience to give insight into working in the digital sector

PLUS

We will specifically fund two students as Andy Taylor Foundation Digital scholars, giving each-

• £2.5k bursary per student per year 
• a MacBook with software licences to narrow the "digital divide"
• regular access to our skilled programme director for one to one developmental sessions, and
• a carefully paired mentor

ATF Digital scholars will receive all of the above, plus: 

• free RTS Membership
• free access to all RTS events (including a prestigious Patron’s Dinner and RTS Cambridge Convention, with travel and expenses covered) 
• free access to RTS screenings and lectures  
• input from other DI panel companies, via the Summer Tour and tailored events
• access to a peer network of over 370 RTS bursary scholars, past and present, and 
• upon graduation, free access to the new RTS Mini MBA.

Via this amazing package, we will help forge a clear career path for our ATF Digital scholars, plus impact the career path of many others within the RTS network. 

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

We’d love you to consider another generous donation towards our vital work supporting the next generation of digital talent- no matter where they were born or who they know. We hope to raise £40,000 by the end of 2025. 

Examples of what donated money will fund-

£5,000- Academic year monetary bursary award, 2 students 

£2,500- Academic year monetary bursary award, 1 student

£2,280- 1 month ATF bursary team support (PT skilled programme director & admin)

£2k- either:

• Application creation, shortlist, selection, bursary award, monitoring (2 students)
• Cost of student Summer Tour participation- inc travel, accommodation, expenses (2 students)

£1,500- either: 

• ATF creating our own hosted Summer Tour experience (inc ATF travel, food, room for whole cohort, additional speakers, materials etc)
• 3 digital expert masterclasses (minimum needed per year) inc prep, travel and expenses, speaker fees etc

£1k- any of: 

• ATF tour of key Unis to encourage student applications- promote accessibility
• Application creation, filtering, shortlist, selection, award and monitoring (1 student)
• Cost of Summer Tour participation- travel, accommodation, expenses (1 student)

£570- 1 week ATF bursary team support (PT skilled programme director & admin)

£500- 1 digital expert masterclass- prep, travel and expenses, speaker fees 

YOUR MONEY, VIA OUR PROGRAMMES, CHANGES LIVES!

"Foot In The Door [former ATF programme] changed my life forever, not only in terms of my career as I’m in a job I dreamt off, but also in my confidence in my own skills and abilities. It also helped me meet friends and contacts that will last a lifetime.” Grace Barnes

We hope we can continue to count on your support, to help more young people like Grace get where they deserve to be.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 1st September 2025 at 3:51pm