We created Daydream Believers to challenge the outdated idea that creativity is a niche skill, separate from academic success or career readiness. As educators, industry leaders and students, we saw the growing gap between what young people learn in school and what they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Innovation, adaptability, critical thinking and emotional intelligence are increasingly demanded by employers, but these skills are often undervalued or left out of formal education entirely.
We believed that creativity could be the bridge. Not creativity as an add-on or a nice to have, but as a core capability that connects learning to life and prepares young people for futures that don't yet exist. We also saw that AI was arriving fast and that schools needed support to engage with it meaningfully, not fearfully.
So, we built something practical. Free resources co-designed with industry. A framework that gives teachers confidence. Qualifications that carry real weight. And a community of educators who share the belief that every young person deserves the chance to think creatively, work with emerging technologies and see themselves as someone with something to offer the world.
We are a not-for-profit because access matters. The young people who need this most are often the ones least likely to get it. That's what drives us.
We give educators the structure, resources and confidence to make creative thinking, AI and career readiness part of everyday learning. In practice, this means students tackling open-ended briefs such as reimagining sustainable spaces in Forestopia or exploring how AI can transform health and care through our Caring Innovators challenge. Our Creative Thinking Framework guides the process, encouraging exploration, collaboration and reflection.
Our Gen AI Exploration Hub supports teachers to use AI creatively and ethically. AI may provoke ideas or expand perspectives, but learners remain in control of the direction and purpose of their work.
Our Threads challenge is a standout example. By June 2026, over 3000 learners aged 10 to 14 will have designed their own sneaker, exploring creative thinking and AI through the world of fashion with partners like Nike and Dr Martens. Through sneaker design, young people research, ideate, test and pitch, building skills that matter in any career. We are now working with partners in the Netherlands to bring Threads to Dutch schools.
Over 1200 learners have completed our Creative Thinking Qualification, and through the newer Creative Innovation pathway, young people are reimagining systems like education, health and care through challenge-based playlists that embed AI at every stage.
In 2026, we were one of four innovations selected for the HundrED Spotlight on AI for Career Readiness.
Our innovation spreads through the people who use it. Teachers don't just deliver our resources, they adapt them, share them and build on them. That grassroots energy has been central to our growth.
Across Scotland, 70 high schools are now delivering our qualifications and challenges like Threads are reaching learners well beyond our original networks. We are translating resources into Dutch with partners in the Netherlands, our first step into international translation of delivery.
In March 2026, we hosted the Creative Thinking Festival in Edinburgh, bringing together over 100 people from education and industry to explore the question: what's the future changemaker? We also co-created a festival in Sydney with educators and industry leaders, showing how creativity in education can connect across continents.
Our work has been recognised internationally. We were named Digital Arts Education Product of the Year at the Digital Education Awards 2025 and received the GIoCT Creative Thinking Award 2025 for our contribution to fostering creative thinking through the innovative use of AI.
The free, open-access nature of our tools makes them easy to adopt. But what really drives the spread is a shared belief among educators that creativity, critical thinking and ethical AI use belong at the heart of learning. It's a movement built on relevance, trust and possibility.
We continue to develop our innovation to meet the evolving needs of educators and learners. Most recently, we launched the Dreamers and Doers playlist, a new set of creative challenges that deepen innovation and imagination while embedding AI meaningfully into every stage of the process. These resources support learners to use AI not just as a generator but as a thinking partner, helping them test, iterate and reflect with purpose.
Our new Creative Innovation Qualification brings together creativity and entrepreneurial thinking, giving learners the tools to tackle real-world problems with confidence. Through challenges like Wonder Makers, we have opened up space for young people to share their thoughts on the future of education itself, putting their voices at the centre of the conversation about what learning should look like.
As one of the innovations featured in the HundrED Spotlight on AI, we are now working together to look at the longevity of our experiences and how to strengthen impact over time.
Our partnerships with Edinburgh Napier University, NHS Education for Scotland, Opencast Nike and others continue to shape what we build and how we build it. Industry and education working together is central to our model, and our approach is increasingly being spotlighted as the way forward for creative thinking, AI and project-based learning that connects the classroom to the world beyond it.
Everything we create is free. That's not a temporary offer, it's how we work. Every challenge, every resource, every qualification pathway is available to download at daydreambelievers.co.uk. You can filter by age, theme and time to find what works best for your learners and start straight away.
If you're a teacher looking for a way into creative thinking or AI, our AI Exploration Hub is a great place to begin. Resources like Solarpunk Island and Threads have already been delivered in classrooms in New Zealand, the United States and across the UK, showing how our challenges adapt across cultural and curricular contexts. Schools can adopt the approach at their own pace.
If you want something your learners can work towards formally, explore the Creative Thinking Qualification or our newer Creative Innovation pathway. Both are credit-rated through Edinburgh Napier University and carry UCAS tariff points.
We also have a growing network of Daydream Ambassadors, experienced teachers who support delivery, share practice and help new schools get started. You don't need to figure it out alone.
If you're a school leader, policymaker or industry partner, we'd love to hear from you. Whether you want to embed our work across your school, adapt resources for your context, or shape a challenge alongside us, we're always open to new collaborations. Get in touch at hello@daydreambelievers.co.uk and join a growing movement of dreamers and doers!
