Friend of Andy Taylor Foundation provided £1,329 of match funding
Ride with Andy 2026 - Ben & Lily
London, England, United Kingdom
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Aim
We're cycling 54 miles to help the next generation get their foot in the creative industries. Every donation makes a difference.
Andy Taylor was my friend, our lives intertwined from University of Nottingham, Victoria Real in Brighton, Television and digital (him at C4 and me at ITV), and YouTube - where I ran YouTube UK business and YouTube EMEA for 12 years and he co-Founded and grew Little Dot Studios - the UK's pre-eminent YouTube content house.
But Andy never forgot where he came from, or forgot how few people from where he came from got chances like him. With his far-too-early death from a brain tumour in December 2020 he left funds to establish the Andy Taylor Foundation...their work is an inspiration, just like Andy was to so many...
Every year, thousands of talented young people miss out on careers in the creative industries because they lack the opportunities, networks or financial support to get started. With almost one million 16–24-year-olds in the UK currently not in education, employment or training (NEET), the need to create accessible pathways into rewarding careers has never been greater.
That's why my daughter Lily and I are taking on Ride with Andy 2026, cycling 54 miles from London to Brighton in memory of digital media pioneer Andy Taylor.
Every penny raised will fund the Andy Taylor Foundation's vital work, including projects such as their:
- Digital Innovation Bursaries, delivered in partnership with the Royal Television Society (RTS). The bursaries provide talented students from lower-income backgrounds with financial support, industry mentoring, networking opportunities, masterclasses and a MacBook, helping them build successful careers in digital media; and
- Foot in the Door courses, the next taking place in Liverpool this Autumn in partnership with Big Egg Films, Hat Trick Productions, ITV's Zoo 55, LA Productions, Lime Pictures’ L16 Digital, Liverpool Film Office, Liverpool Media Academy (LMA), Sony Pictures Europe and others. This incredible full time programme will support 12 NEET Liverpool residents aged 18-21 through: three weeks of industry-led training focused on confidence building, communication, teamwork, workplace behaviour and digital media skills; then four weeks paid work experience placements with employers from across media, creative and business sectors including Liverpool FC, Lime/ L16 Digital, LA Productions and many more.
By supporting our ride, you're helping to break down barriers, champion diverse talent and ensure the next generation can access opportunities based on their potential, not their background.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 10th November 2026 at 2:35pm