Colleagues Unite for Snowdon Challenge in Support of the OCS Foundation

Taking on the Challenge Together 

Over the weekend, 16 colleagues from across OCS conquered the Snowdon Challenge in support of the OCS Foundation. 

Representing a range of sectors, from Cleaning and frontline Security to Private Sector contracts, the team took on Wales’ highest mountain to raise funds and awareness for the OCS Foundation, whose mission is to support organisations which give young people across the UK & Ireland the opportunities to thrive.  

While each colleague had their own reason for taking part, they share a common goal: supporting the Foundation’s work to create opportunities, improve wellbeing and make a positive difference in communities. 

More than a Fundraising Challenge

Behind every fundraising challenge is a personal story.

For some colleagues, Snowdon represented an opportunity to support causes that have directly touched their lives. Stephen Woods, Regional Manager, Private Sector FM, is particularly touched by foundation partner Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity that provides support to bereaved military children and their families. As a former serving British Army soldier, Stephen has experienced the loss of friends during service and beyond, making the charity’s work particularly meaningful.

Operations Support Manager Jayne Reeves shares a similar connection. Through her links to the Armed Forces community, she has seen the impact that loss can have on military families and understands the need to ensure children receive the support they need. Alongside this, she has spent the past four years undergoing treatment for cancer and has experienced first-hand the difference charities can make during difficult times.

Together, their experiences reflect a wider theme across the team. The challenge was not only to raise funds, but also to support organisations that provide hope and practical help to those who need it most.

Supporting Future Generations 

The OCS Foundation’s focus on supporting children and young people is another powerful motivation behind the challenge. 

Across OCS, many colleagues work in schools, communities, and public spaces where they see, every day, how encouragement, support, and opportunity can shape a young person’s future. Whether through education, wellbeing initiatives or community programmes, the Foundation supports partners that help create opportunities that can have a lasting impact on children, young people and their families. 

For colleagues such as Natalie Redington and Zoe Scheepers, that connection resonates strongly. Through their work and experiences, they understand the importance of helping young people access opportunities that allow them to thrive. 

Their reasons for taking part may be personal, but the outcome is shared. Every step taken up Snowdon will help support initiatives that create positive opportunities for others. 

One Mountain, Many Motivations 

Alongside the charitable purpose, the challenge also represents a personal milestone for many of those who took part. 

Some colleagues have had climbing Snowdon on their bucket list for years. Gina Rowbery has long wanted to complete the climb, while Government Facilities Manager Deana Lamb, saw the challenge as an opportunity to achieve a personal goal while supporting a cause close to her heart. 

Others combined a passion for the outdoors with the opportunity to give something back. Retail Mobile Supervisor, Natalia Banaszek, who enjoys hiking and spending time in nature, saw the challenge as a natural way to support the Foundation while doing something she loves. 

For many participants, the climb was also about stepping outside their comfort zone and proving what can be achieved through determination and teamwork. 

From Catering Teams to Mountain Trails 

Among the colleagues who took part are sisters Toni Roberts and Zoe Scheepers from Angel Hill Food Co.

Both work within education catering in Shropshire, supporting schools and local communities every day. Zoe is a Chef Manager supporting primary and Special Educational Needs settings, while Toni is a Catering Manager within a secondary school just a few minutes away. Between them, they have almost two decades of experience across OCS catering services. 

Outside work, they are also regular training partners. Over the years, they have completed half marathons, local running events and countless training sessions together, balancing busy careers and family life while encouraging each other to keep going. 

The idea of climbing Snowdon had been discussed for years before the OCS Foundation challenge was announced. When the opportunity finally arrived, it gave them the chance to combine something they had always wanted to achieve with supporting a cause they care about. 

Like many of their fellow participants, they approached the challenge as an opportunity to push themselves, spend time together and contribute to something larger than the climb itself.

One Team, One Purpose 

While every colleague had their own reason for taking part, the Snowdon Challenge reflects something shared across the group: a desire to support others and make a positive difference. 

The event demonstrates how colleagues from different sectors, contracts and regions came together behind a common cause, supporting communities while building new connections across the business. 

Congratulations and thank you to every colleague who took part. Throughout the challenge, you demonstrated the TRUE Values that underpin the work of the OCS Foundation.