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The 125 Challenge is a week-long virtual event designed to unite colleagues, customers, and communities in movement and fundraising.
The initiative, which has been launched to mark OCS’ 125th anniversary, aims to generate vital support for the OCS Foundation and its partner charities, showcasing the company’s long-standing commitment to making a positive difference in people’s lives.
Taking place from 15 to 21 September, the 125 Challenge invites teams of up to five people to cover a virtual 125-mile route inspired by OCS’s rich heritage. This journey will highlight key locations from the company’s history and the partners it supports today. Any activity counts, whether walking, cycling, gardening, or everyday movement, all contributing to team progress along the route. Friendly competition is encouraged, with participants motivating each other towards the finish line.
Each participant is encouraged to raise £125 for the OCS Foundation, with all funds going directly to four partner charities that support children and young people.
Nikki Brown, Head of OCS Foundation, said: “I am so excited to see the 125 Challenge kick off. Fundraising activities like this are a brilliant way to bring people together for a good cause. The team format builds a real sense of unity, with a bit of friendly competition to keep things lively—all in support of four incredible charities doing important work. And because it’s in honour of OCS’s 125th anniversary, it feels even more special. I can’t wait to see all the different ways people rack up their mileage!”
First established in 2014 and relaunched in 2025, the OCS Foundation is an independent grant-giving and fundraising charity with a mission to empower children and young people across the UK and Ireland. The OCS Foundation supports causes, projects and charities that give less advantaged young people the opportunity to explore their passions, unlock their potential and transform their lives.
Harnessing the strength and reach of OCS, the Foundation is committed to empowering individuals through mental health support, developmental activities, education, skills training, networks and opportunities, equipping them with the tools to thrive.
Guided by three core pillars: wellbeing and inclusion, education and skills development, and community support, the Foundation works with grassroots organisations to remove barriers, create opportunities and inspire ambition. Its People into Work programme has already supported more than 680 people into sustainable employment, and its partnerships channel funding and resources where they are needed most.
• Brighten the Corners – Based in Ipswich, this charity empowers young people from marginalised communities through music, arts, media and live event production. Their hands-on programmes build confidence, develop skills and open pathways into employment, volunteering and the creative industries.
• Irish Youth Foundation – One in five children in Ireland lives in poverty. The Irish Youth Foundation funds grassroots projects that support young people through after-school clubs, skills training and wellbeing initiatives, helping them to reach their potential and create a fairer future.
• Teenage Cancer Trust – The only UK charity dedicated to young people with cancer, providing specialist nurses, youth workers and hospital units to ensure age-appropriate care and support so no young person faces cancer alone.
• Scotty’s Little Soldiers – Supporting children and young people who have lost a parent who served in the Armed Forces, offering tailored bereavement support and opportunities to connect with others in similar situations, helping them rebuild and thrive.
