OCS Foundation Relaunches with Mission to Empower Children and Young People

We’re thrilled to announce the relaunch of the OCS Foundation. The OCS Foundation is an independent grant-giving and fundraising charity. We’re relaunching with a focus on creating opportunities for children and young people facing disadvantage across the UK and Ireland.

OCS initially established the Foundation in 2014, this relaunch comes as a result of the merger in 2023. Since 2014, the Foundation has built a legacy of addressing poverty by investing in socially and economically disadvantaged community members. In 2023, we piloted our pioneering ‘People into Work’ programme. Presently, the programme has helped over 680 individuals secure valuable, sustainable employment. These life-changing outcomes are now a core part of OCS’s social value commitments.

A new chapter

With the relaunch, the OCS Foundation is reaffirming our purpose to positively impact as many children and young people as possible, providing them with opportunities to thrive. The Foundation’s mission is clear—children and young people should have no limits to their potential, their dreams, and no limits in their lives.

Recognising the barriers many children and young people face, whether through illness, poverty, exclusion, or unstable family environments, the OCS Foundation supports causes, projects, and charities that offer safety, skills, wellbeing support, and real pathways to a brighter future. By leveraging the strength and reach of OCS, the Foundation empowers individuals through mental health support, education, skills development, and community activities, ensuring a lasting impact.

Key initiatives and values

The OCS Foundation’s initiatives focus on three core areas:

• Wellbeing and inclusion: Promoting mental health, physical wellbeing, and social inclusion.
• Education and skills development: Supporting access to learning, training, career pathways, and sporting opportunities.
• Community support: Partnering with organisations to deliver meaningful local impact.

The Foundation has begun work to invest in both immediate support and long-term solutions for young people.

Collective Commitment and Leadership

The OCS Foundation is led by a dedicated board of trustees. The board is chaired by Lorraine O’Brien, who brings over 25 years of commercial and charitable leadership experience. Nikki Brown, the new Head of Foundation, is passionate about harnessing collective effort to make a tangible difference in the lives of children and young people.

As part of the relaunch, the Foundation is proud to announce partnerships with Brighten the Corners, Irish Youth Foundation, Teenage Cancer Trust and Scotty’s Little Soldiers. These partnerships will further strengthen the Foundation’s ability to deliver meaningful, lasting impact.