About Alan Davidson Foundation
The Alan Davidson Foundation is a UK registered charity that supports a wide range of causes. There is a strong focus on MND research, care and initiatives that help support those with disabling neurological conditions. It also supports architecture and architectural initiatives.
Who started the foundation?
The Foundation was founded by Alan Davidson. It benefitted greatly from his experience of MND and his passions for architecture, visual arts and technology. He was diagnosed with MND in 2012, and lost the battle to the disease in August 2018. Alan was the founder of London based architecture visualisation studio Hayes Davidson, one of the early pioneers of architectural computer graphics (CGI).
Why was the foundation started?
Alan was committed to helping people suffering from MND and associated neurological conditions, he wanted to help initiatives that improved their lives through better care and support, and funding research work to find a cure for MND. The Foundation carefully researches the organisations that it funds, with a preference for ‘open source’ research data where information is shared globally.
Who does the foundation support?
The Foundation supports a wide range of organisations, charities and worthy causes. Funding is allocated after careful research into the project to help understand the circumstances, charity or research being proposed. A meeting with the individual or organisation is then arranged to discuss in detail the area of work that requires funding. Find out more about the projects we have supported below.
What is MND?
MND, Motor Neurone Disease is a terminal condition that currently has no cure. It progressively damages the nervous system, leading to muscle wasting. As damage progresses, the condition becomes more debilitating. Communicating, swallowing and breathing become difficult and eventually a person with MND may be unable to move and become ‘locked in’. MND is often referred to as ‘ALS’ outside of the UK.
News and events
The Davidson Prize 2024
The Davidson Prize, now in its 4th year, held the award ceremony at Impact Hub in London Euston on June 19th as part of the London Festival of Architecture. Over 100 guests gathered to watch the Apartment Store team win both the main prize and the People’s Choice, with over a quarter of the 1,800 votes.
ADF visit to University of Oxford
In February 2024, the Trustees met the team at the University of Oxford working on the “Making MND Preventable” research project.
New scholarship with the University of Edinburgh
The Foundation scholarship is now supporting the architecture school at the University of Edinburgh where Alan graduated from in 1984. The scholarship will support home students applying for the Access Edinburgh funding.
The Davidson PlayGC Bursary Launches
The Foundation and PlayGC Theatre Company have created a new theatre writing bursary to support theatres and writers to produce new work. The first year funds have been awarded to The Royal Court Theatre in London.
The Big Draw and the 6th John Ruskin Prize
The Foundation proudly sponsored the Under 26 category of the 6th John Ruskin Prize: “Seeing the Unseen, Hearing the Unspoken,” which was awarded in January 2024.
