GRIT
MEET YOUR finalists
Ann Newlove Opportune Funding and Project Support
In May 2023, perimenopause hit Ann Newlove hard, upending her confidence and career as a senior leader in the voluntary sector. Navigating severe symptoms while caring for her children including one with complex needs, she stepped back from work to recover.
By autumn, with her health improving thanks to HRT, Ann began rethinking her future. Rather than return to a traditional role, she launched Opportune Project and Funding Support in October 2023 to help charities secure funding and develop sustainable projects. What started with small bid-writing quickly grew.
Ann has since secured over £500,000 for clients and hired her first employee in November 2024. Her clients range from disability and mental health charities to heritage restoration and women’s health initiatives - including a menopause support network. Ann’s courage to pivot in the face of adversity now enables her to empower others across Hull and East Yorkshire’s not-for-profit sector.
Elisabeth Kugler Zeeks - Art for Geeks
Dr Elisabeth Kugler is a scientist at the interface of biomedical image analysis and science communication. She has a PhD in biomedical image analysis and worked at prestigious institutes such as EMBL Heidelberg and UCL. In 2022, she founded Zeeks, a corporate science communication company, which, after less than 18 months, has been selected for a national business development program and won the regional Creative StartUp Award 2024. Elisabeth is also the producer and host of the BBC-featured Keep it Science podcast and an Associate Lecturer at the University of Lincoln.
Elisabeth brings over a decade of experience in science communication, blending
technical expertise with creativity. Passionate about making science accessible, she
has worked globally to train professionals to master impactful communication across
various formats and channels.
Abdu Abubakar
Tigers trust
I arrived in the UK in 2015 as a 17-year-old, alone and grappling with language barriers, cultural shock, and a lot of anxiety. Football and the Tigers Trust became my sanctuary. When volunteering, I channelled my struggles into purpose, rising through the ranks to become Youth Engagement Manager at the place I love working in, dedicating over six years to empowering marginalised communities.
I’ve worked on many programmes like Premier League Kicks and Active Through Football, engaging thousands of children, young people and adults with different backgrounds, while bridging cultural divides through my understanding of cultures and being a bilingual. I’ve partnered with many organisations like Hull City Council, National Health Service, and EFL in the Community to amplify social inclusion, co- designing activities that improved lives. Starting as a lost teenager, I now lead a team that embed equality and quality across Tigers Trust’s Engagement initiatives.
Every step - from volunteer to managing - fuels my belief in rebuilding lives. My story is proof that grit, paired with compassion, can turn adversity into hope.
