15 Years of Impact - What’s Next for Apps for Good?

Natalie Moore, CEO, shares her reflections on our 15th anniversary

As we celebrate our 15th anniversary at Apps for Good, my mind travels back to the start of this incredible journey. Having been part of the team for 13 of those years, I’ve been privileged to witness the growth, the change, and the constant force of our community in action.

No matter how rapidly the world around us changes, with its challenges in the wider operating environment, I feel incredibly proud of the unwavering vision we maintain: a world where every young person has the skills to shape their future. We’ve spent 15 years delivering on this promise, and in doing so, we have proven ourselves to be a trusted partner for industry and educators, delivering a lasting positive impact on young people.

Our belief has always been that our impact shouldn't just be measured by the number of students we reach today, but by the trajectory they choose for tomorrow. While short-term engagement and what changes now is hugely important; it’s the long-term impact, described in our Theory of Change that will see the most significant social change.

For me, the most rewarding part of this anniversary has been the chance to reconnect with students who have taken part in an Apps for Good course over the years and learn what they are up to now. Their stories are the living proof that our vision can become a reality.

• We heard from Mohima, one of our earliest students and now an Apps for Good Trustee, who traces her career path in digital transformation back to the skills she gained in our courses.
• We met Mariam, who credits the need to present her app idea to judges for transforming her confidence from being "very quiet" to becoming an articulate communicator, a crucial skill for life and work.
• We saw the influence on individuals like David, a student whom I heard about on my very first day at Apps for Good, who went on to work in marketing for Nike, and who tells us that the course gave him the "perspective and the openness to understand that with an idea, you can create something."
• Zak, now a law student and education campaigner, recalls “One thing I remember from Apps for Good is that I never had to spend money to feel involved. I will always remember that...It’s always been accessible...All you have to do is show up and put in your idea.”
• We reconnected with Otto, who is currently studying law at Manchester Metropolitan University and volunteers with a legal charity, supporting people without representation to navigate the court system. He says that Apps for Good planted the seeds of that ambition: “It developed a moral compass for me at quite a young age… and definitely had an influence on what came to be a political interest of mine.”
• And electronics design engineer, Matt, who credits Apps for Good with developing the essential skills he learnt, which helped him when he entered the world of work.

These personal stories, backed by evidence from our long-standing school partners showing a notable uptake in girls choosing computing subjects, confirm that our courses equip young people with the essential skills and the agency to thrive in an uncertain future.

We have achieved so much in 15 years: we've delivered free tech innovation courses to hundreds of thousands of young people (more than 345,400 students across the UK and Portugal!), secured prestigious recognitions for our resources, and continuously evolved our content to embrace major global shifts like AI and climate change.

Yet, we know there is still work to do. With the pace of change accelerating, we must remain focused on what's next, ensuring we engage students to prepare them for their future of work by equipping them with the right skills and the ethical compass to use technology responsibly. Our plan and ambition for the next 15 years is to deepen our impact, innovate our delivery model and course content, and ensure we reach every young person, regardless of their background, who needs our help to unlock their potential.

This significant milestone belongs to everyone in the Apps for Good ecosystem. I want to take a moment to shoutout and thank the incredible people who make our mission possible:

• To our funders and supporters: Thank you for providing the secure, sustainable foundation that allows us to plan for the long term, remain a safe pair of hands and continue giving teachers and learners high quality, zero-cost educational experiences.
• To our Industry Volunteers: Thank you for generously giving your time and expertise, bringing real-world context into the classroom and inspiring young people with your own journeys.
• To our teachers and school partners: Thank you for being the champions in the classroom, driving engagement, and believing in our shared vision for education.
• To our dedicated team and trustees: Thank you for your passion and tireless commitment to our mission.

Collaboration will be key to achieving our ambitions for the next 15 years. This anniversary reflection is also an invitation to join us in building a more equitable future for young people. We need your help to keep this journey going.

This is how you can support our next chapter:

• Fund: Support our future by becoming a corporate partner, providing a grant as a Trust or Foundation, or making a personal donation to keep our courses free.
• Volunteer: Sign up to be an Industry Volunteer and share your professional expertise with a classroom, online for an hour or two.
• Advocate: Introduce us to schools or Multi-Academy Trusts that could benefit from our free tech innovation courses. Also, don't forget to follow us and share our posts on social media to help spread the word about Apps for Good.

Thank you for everything you’ve done to support us over the last 15 years. Let's continue empowering the problem-solvers, innovators, and leaders of tomorrow.