Helping young people from challenging backgrounds

WHAT IS THE RIDGE FOUNDATION?

The Foundation is inspired by Darren’s own experiences growing up on a council estate in a deprived area.

Having gone on to achieve success in the telecoms industry, he set up the Foundation to support projects that help young people from similar backgrounds to learn and thrive.

Some of the young people who attend the academy face financial, family and societal challenges that can hold them back and prevent them from reaching their potential.

For example, in the Leigh Park area where the Academy is based, 68% of the students come from broken families and 50% of the children never leave the immediate area.

The Ridge Foundation aims to support the Academy in helping these young people to learn and flourish.

The Foundation is currently fundraising and working with the Academy to identify the most beneficial ways to use charitable donations to improve the education environment for its young people.

The first planned project is the refurbishment of an existing building on site and, reflecting Darren Ridge’s background in telecoms and technology, the Foundation is also supporting the Academy with funding for IT equipment.

Darren is one of Britain’s leading telecoms entrepreneurs, with a wealth of experience in building commercially successful brands. He was one of the first entrepreneurs to sell mobile phones on the high street – in 1987 he founded KJC, which grew to be the largest retail chain of its kind in the south.

In 2002 he founded Onecom, leading the business through organic growth and more than 25 strategic acquisitions to become the UK’s largest independent business communications provider, reaching a £200m turnover.

Darren continues to build and grow businesses, and lives in Hampshire with his wife Maria. He is a prolific supporter of charities, community events, schools, and other good causes regionally, across the UK and abroad.

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