ABOUT US
In 2017, Bright Futures UK shook up the charity world, creating an entirely new organisation which looks to deal with the intricate and sensitive topics created by illness.
Bright Futures UK is the first organisation dedicated to tackling all issues young people face when they are forced to take time out from education due to medical circumstances.
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We offer support to young people of all educational ages who suffer from severe long-term illness, whether it be a mental health or physical health condition
OUR STORY
Bright Futures is the first UK charity to support children and young people whose education has been interrupted by serious illness. Our mission is to empower young people and their families, ensuring that they get the support they need to continue their education and fulfil their potential.
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Josh & Nathalie co-founded Bright Futures UK after their own experiences of serious illness during education. Both Josh & Nathalie had cancer at different stages in their lives, and between them, they’ve been on the receiving end of treatments, appointments and rehabilitation support for a combined total of 20 years.
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Our founders know first hand the impact that illness has on all areas in life, the areas where there’s already enough assistance and the areas - like this one - where more support is needed. Bright Futures fills a big gap in providing support to help young people affected by illness back into education.
WHO WE ARE
JOSH
I am the founder of Bright Futures UK, a charity created from personal experiences I have had to face. I am a two-time cancer survivor, beating the big ‘C’ at the ages of 5 and 16. Being out of education during those important years of my life created a number of challenges beyond those of a medical nature. I faced questions such as, ‘Can I keep up with the work?’ ‘What opportunities are out there for me now’ and simply ‘What next?’. Every year roughly half a million young people face physical and mental illness that leave them with these exact questions, and hundreds more.
I have seen an entire generation of young people face these problems – Bright Futures UK ensures young people no longer face these challenges alone.
NATHALIE
I’m the Co-founder of Bright Futures UK and I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2015. At that time, I was a university student and my diagnosis came as a complete shock, turning my entire life upside down and unsettling everything. I have learnt that, with severe illnesses, it isn’t just the obvious things that get disrupted; it seems to trickle out into all areas of life. I found it very hard to get the right support educationally, as I wasn’t strong enough to finish my degree. Bright Futures UK is incredibly important to me as I don’t want anyone to face the same uncertainty and complications as I did – educationally, socially or professionally. Cancer, although common, is never something expected and it completely changed the path I was on. I feel grateful for the experience, as strange as that sounds, as it has taught me invaluable lessons and I am a better person because of it.