RDS Charity of the Quarter: Foundations 4 the Future

Did you know? When you grab a chocolate bar from the RDS tuck-shop you’re not just fighting the 3 p.m. slump, you’re supporting causes that change lives.

All profits from our office snack stands are donated to charities chosen by our people. This quarter’s chosen charity is Foundations 4 the Future (F4TF), an organisation close to the heart of RDS alumni, Ciaren Finngean.

Say “hello” to Foundations 4 the Future?

F4TF is a fantastic community-interest company delivering life-changing mentoring for young people across Birmingham and the West Midlands.

Founded by youth-work professionals with lived experience, F4TF works with young people who are at risk of exploitation, exclusion or serious violence.

Their model is simple but powerful:

• Prevention: early-intervention workshops in schools.
• Intervention: 1-to-1, trauma-informed mentoring that builds resilience and self-worth.
• Diversion: employment pathways, sports programmes and community events that give young people reasons to say yes to positive choices.

Last year alone F4TF supported 300+ mentees, helped reduce school exclusions in partnered academies and facilitated dozens of accredited qualifications that move young people closer to long-term employment.

It’s hands-on, grassroots work and exactly the sort of impact our team wants to amplify.

F4TF co-founder & managing director, Aaron Forde, with RDS’ Yvette Gray

The RDS tuck-shop initiative – what a treat

Like most workplace tuck shops, ours started with the simple goal of providing snacks and drinks for the team. But over the past few years, it’s grown into something much more powerful: a grassroots fundraising initiative supporting local causes.

Every quarter, colleagues nominate a charity they care about. The company votes and the chosen organisation receives 100% of the profits raised. It’s all managed by our brilliant Sales Order Processing Team, who buy everything wholesale to ensure maximum impact.

Micro-giving turns everyday habits into steady, reliable support. A KitKat here, a can of Diet Coke there and, suddenly, we’re contributing to the funding of F4TF’s mentoring sessions or travel costs for a young person who really needs them.

It’s hands-on, grassroots work which is exactly the sort of impact our team wants to amplify.

3 ways you can help F4TF (even if you don’t work at RDS)

1. Donate: a one-off or monthly gift via the F4TF website keeps mentoring sessions running.
2. Volunteer: F4TF welcomes guest speakers, employability mentors and sports coaches.
3. Share: amplify their work on social with #Foundations4theFuture on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and TikTok.

Upcoming charity events

Beyond the snacks, upcoming charitable endeavors at RDS include Dorothy May Garden Day on July 23rd, 2025.

A group of RDS volunteers will spend the day restoring raised beds and wheelchair-friendly pathways at a local city farm that provides horticulture therapy.

Learn more about Dorothy Parks Community Centre here.