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Pupils at Havant Academy have taken delivery of a brand new minibus – bringing the total value of donations in support of the school from The Ridge Foundation to a milestone £500,000. Darren Ridge, a technology entrepreneur and former pupil of the school in Leigh Park, presented the £50,000 bus to pupils just before Christmas. The foundation also donated £330,000 worth of Vodafone data connectivity to the Academy, which will be used to widen students’ access to online learning tools. It brings The Ridge Foundation’s total contributions throughout the year to half a million pounds. In previous donations during 2024, it funded a new technology hub to support young people who struggle with learning in the classroom, provided 40 computers and projector equipment, supported the Academy’s awards scheme and prom, and organised a sponsored bike ride to raise over £30,000 for a Cubbie unit which provides a multi-sensory space to support students to reduce anxiety. Darren said: “We are delighted to have reached this milestone and to be able to support staff and pupils at Havant Academy in the challenges they face every day in helping young people learn, thrive and reach their potential. “The Ridge Foundation will continue to support the school throughout 2025, and we look forward to continuing to make a meaningful difference to young people – and to achieving extraordinary things together.” Darren was a pupil at the Academy when it was known as Wakeford Comprehensive School, and went on to found business communications specialist Onecom. He and co-founder Aaron Brown’s company Ridown invest in technology businesses including broadband provider Onestream and device recycling specialist WeBuyAnyPhone. The Ridge Foundation was founded by Darren, and inspired by his own experiences, to help children and young people from challenging backgrounds to reach their full potential. Headteacher Vicki Dillon-Thiselton said: “The support of Darren and The Ridge Foundation has been phenomenal, especially when it comes to supporting young people with social, emotional and mental health concerns. Both the bus and the data connectivity will open up new opportunities for Havant Academy students, and set us off on a great start as we look forward to 2025.”
Watch our video to see how a team of riders led by Ridge Foundation founder Darren Ridge raised thousands of pounds in a sponsored bike ride to support young people at Havant Academy. A group of Darren’s colleagues and friends rode from Ridown’s headquarters in Whiteley to the school in Leigh Park, Havant. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, the event raised more than £30,000 – smashing the £20,000 target. The funds raised will purchase a Cubbie unit – computer equipment which creates an immersive sensory space that can help pupils calm down and prepare for learning. The Academy has a large proportion of students who suffer from anxiety and behaviour problems, who will benefit from this technology. Darren, who was a pupil at the Academy when it was known as Wakeford Comprehensive School, is a passionate supporter of the school through the Ridge Foundation. The foundation previously donated £30,000 to create The Ridge Centre, which is fitted with technology to support students who find it hard to work in a classroom environment. The hub is fitted with technology that allows students to listen to live lessons from their teachers remotely, while remaining in the school environment.
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.
