Ashley McCartan
Ash joined the Ideas Collective with a long-held vision to tackle financial inequality, and left with the tools, confidence and community to turn that vision into action. Read his story to find out more.
Creating Change Through Financial Education: Ash’s Journey with the Ideas Collective
Ash joined the Ideas Collective in 2025 after discovering STAND through a sustainability project during his master’s programme at UCD. Encouraged by friends who believed the community would resonate with him, Ash visited the STAND festival at UCD and said he immediately felt a sense of belonging. What began as curiosity quickly grew into a deeper involvement with STAND and a commitment to developing an idea that had been on his mind for nearly a decade.
Ash presenting Guerrilla Education at the pitch showcase for the end of the Ideas Collective bootcamp in June 2025
When Ash first arrived at the Ideas Collective, he was struck by the warmth and openness of the space: “I missed my alarm (for the first time in years) and was late, came bursting through the door 40min late with a massive black eye, and no one batted an eyelid. I was welcomed, given a coffee and a few minutes to wind down (I’d cycled across Dublin and was fairly out of breath) and was welcomed into this amazing space or ‘bubble’ as I often imagine, created by Charlotte, Clare and Susie - it’s truly magical (and a little scary if you’re not familiar with allowing yourself to be vulnerable).”
That sense of acceptance set the tone for the programme and allowed Ash to explore his ideas in a meaningful way.
"I could write an essay about the impact this programme has had on me! It’s given me confidence, motivation and a sense of belonging in a supportive and knowledgeable community. I feel validated in the impact I want to make and I’ve gained access to tools and resources I wouldn’t have had otherwise"
One particularly powerful moment came during an early pitch practice with other participants. Sharing personal experiences and the motivation behind his idea sparked a reaction from the group that Ash had not expected. The encouragement and empathy he received helped him see the importance of his story and strengthened his belief in the project he wanted to build.
Through the programme, Ash developed practical skills to turn a long-standing passion into a tangible initiative. Using tools such as design thinking, mission and values development, and business planning, he learned how to move from a concept to a project that could be implemented in real communities. The experience also built confidence in presenting ideas and navigating the early stages of creating a social impact initiative.
"The key skill I’ve developed is understanding how to turn an idea about societal change into a tangible project. Understanding how to get from point A (the concept) to point C (putting it in practice), including design thinking, business structure planning, values and missions, pitching"
Alongside the Ideas Collective, Ash became further involved in the STAND community by coordinating the Global Issues Course at UCD. Facilitating discussions with more than twenty students each week offered new perspectives and challenged assumptions, while also creating space to explore complex global challenges together. The experience reinforced his commitment to dialogue, critical thinking and collaborative learning.
Guerrila Education first pilot lesson delivered in Tramore, Co. Waterford.
"It was a brilliant opportunity that I’m truly grateful to have been trusted with. I was fortunate enough to spend two hours a week with 20+ other students from UCD, which gave me 20+ new perspectives on the world we live in."
When we asked Ash if he’s recommend joining STAND to other people he said: “Absolutely, it’s a no-brainer. You don’t have to want to change the world to be part of this community. All you need is curiosity and open-mindedness and the rest will follow. Each person that joins STAND brings their own ‘cultural backpack’, a lifetime of experiences that shape their perception of the world, and the more there are, the richer the experience is for everyone in STAND.”
Ash presenting Guerrilla Education at the pitch showcase for the end of the Ideas Collective bootcamp in June 2025
Guerilla Education is a social enterprise we were proud to support during the Ideas Collective and its aim is to deliver free financial literacy workshops to underserved communities across Ireland. Combining practical money skills with emotional intelligence and critical thinking, the programme aims to challenge financial inequality and help young people build confidence in managing their finances.
After completing the Ideas Collective in 2026, Ash delivered its first pilot workshop in Waterford and is working towards registering the project as a CLG. More pilot sessions are now being planned for TY students, school leavers, and young people aged 15–21 from vulnerable backgrounds, offered in exchange for feedback and testimonials to help grow the initiative. You can follow their journey on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Guerrila Education first pilot lesson delivered in Tramore, Co. Waterford.
Do you have an idea for social change but not sure how to get started?
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