Who we are
We can’t do it alone. We need your help. Your small help can bring a big change.
Our Background Story
Established in 2023 as Ormiston Vulnerable Children’s Foundation (OVCF), the charity is dedicated to empowering disadvantaged young people in London and nearby areas. Focused on Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT) in London and neighbouring areas, we aim to support children who have faced exclusion from mainstream education and come from disadvantaged backgrounds. OAT’s approach in London involves providing tailored support through small group learning and individualised pathways. We not only nurture academic talents but also focus on developing non-academic abilities while offering crucial emotional support.
At OVCF, we believe that every child deserves an opportunity to succeed. Your donation, regardless of its size, plays a pivotal role in enabling us to provide essential therapeutic assistance and enrichment programmes. These initiatives are designed to equip children with the skills, confidence, and resources they need to excel in education, actively participate in society, and ultimately thrive as individuals. By supporting OVCF, you are investing in the future of these children, helping them overcome obstacles and realise their full potential.
A donation of whatever size will make a difference and will help to give every child a chance.
Foundation Trustees
Our trustees, our Foundation team are responsible for the Foundation in directing how it is managed, run and ultimately support our children in ensuring the have what they need.
Tony Meehan – Chair of Foundation
I am currently a practitioner of Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) supporting and coaching families where child-to-parent violence is a feature and I work in schools to support them with young people at risk of exclusion. My 30-year career as a teacher includes over eight years as head of an inner-London Pupil Referral Unit, working with vulnerable pupils excluded from mainstream school and with their families, before retiring in 2017. I have just completed a professional doctorate into the effects of exclusion on pupils and their families and exploring how AP schools might be better conceptualised to support vulnerable children in schools.
Ava Pearce
Ava Pearce is an Industrial Psychologist working within the educational, wellness and fitness industry. She is an academic tutor, speaker, and a coach within the exercise sector. Ava is co-founder of ImersU, a distinguished Chairman of Anjoman UK and Trustee at OVCF.
Serita Philogene
Serita Philogene is a dedicated and skilled practitioner with over 15 years of experience in supporting positive behaviour and inclusion in schools. As the OAT lead for Secondary Outreach in Westminster, Serita works directly with school teams to help them address challenging behaviours, implement effective classroom management strategies, and create inclusive environments where every student feels supported. Serita’s approach focuses on building strong relationships with students, fostering resilience, and promoting strategies that allow all learners to succeed.
Wasim Butt
Wasim is an experienced educator with a diverse background spanning mainstream education, special education, and alternative provision. Before joining Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT) in 2021, he held leadership roles as Headteacher and Executive Headteacher of Alternative Provision (AP) Academies in inner London. In May 2022, Wasim became Director of AP and Special at OAT, where he oversees a cluster of schools and leads the trust’s SEND and mental health strategy.
Throughout his career, Wasim has successfully developed and implemented whole-school strategies focused on attendance, behaviour, and inclusion. His deep commitment to improving outcomes for disadvantaged and vulnerable young people is at the heart of his work, driving his passion for creating inclusive and supportive educational environments across the trust.