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 Havant Academy started the academic year with a new hub to support students with social, emotional, and mental health needs, funded by a charitable foundation set up by entrepreneur Darren Ridge. The Ridge Centre is a new area providing a quiet, calm setting where students who find classrooms challenging can learn and receive one-to-one support. It was funded by a donation of £30,000 from The Ridge Foundation, which was set up by Darren to help young people from challenging backgrounds to achieve their potential. Darren, who co-founded telecoms provider Onecom and continues to invest in telecoms and tech businesses, was a pupil at the Academy when it was known as Wakeford Comprehensive School. The hub is fitted with technology that allows students who suffer anxiety or behaviour issues in class to listen to live lessons from their teachers on their own, while still benefiting from being in the school environment. Headteacher Vicki Dillon-Thiselton said: ‘Our school has a high level of need, both in terms of the levels of deprivation of the children who come into the school, and their social, emotional, and mental health concerns. “Some of those young people find it difficult to respond appropriately to situations that they find challenging, and we need provision in the school to support them on a more individualised basis. That takes time and money, and is where the Ridge Foundation has been able to help. “In the hub we welcome a range of young people with different levels of need, and adults working with them, so they can access education in a way they couldn’t before. “Thanks to this donation we’ve got young people who are accessing education and are going to get qualifications that they simply wouldn’t have had otherwise.” On a visit to his former school to see the hub in action, Darren met students including 15-year-old Layton Outen, who uses the facilities there to help him focus. Layton has already made huge progress to overcome many of his challenges, and has set his sights on becoming an engineering apprentice. Following the visit, Darren said: “Meeting young people like Layton brings home the challenges young people and teachers face, especially in areas affected by deprivation, but also how they can achieve extraordinary things together. I set up the Ridge Foundation to help provide resources to support work to raise aspirations among young people, and it was fantastic to see first-hand how this project is already making a difference.” The Ridge Foundation continues to work with Havant Academy to support a range of projects, including a forthcoming awards evening to reward progress and performance. Pictured: (left to right): Headteacher Vicki Dillon-Thiselton, pupil Layton Outen, and Darren Ridge.