What is OVO Foundation?
OVO Foundation is our charity. Since 2014, the Foundation has been helping to create a greener, brighter future - for every child. We need collective action to fight the climate crisis. As the future changemakers of our world, we want to empower the next generation to protect the planet they love.
Yet access to nature, climate education and action is not equal, and the impacts of the climate crisis are felt most by less advantaged communities. We want to change that. That’s why OVO Foundation is funding climate action and education projects that support children and young people living in underserved communities.
By creating new green spaces, improving climate education and kickstarting climate action, kids across the UK are seeing they have the power to make a difference.
Want to learn more? Here’s just some of the work we’re doing:
Climate Changers
Through our flagship funding programme, Climate Changers, we’ve committed £2m since 2020 to supporting climate action and education projects for kids across the UK. These projects include:
Planting 12 Tiny Forests with Earthwatch Europe in urban areas that need them the most. That’s 7200 trees and 25,000sq ft of land transformed! These mini woodlands have lots of environmental benefits as well as doubling up as outdoor classrooms where kids can learn about protecting the planet.
Equipping kids with the energy-saving know-how to help make their schools more energy efficient. With Energy Sparks’ brilliant online education project, schools are ditching 1000s of tonnes of carbon and saving millions off their energy bills!!
With Action for Conservation we’re supporting young people to deliver their own environmental action projects to life. This inspiring project gets young people out into nature while making schools and communities greener. Win win!
Giving 75 schools a cash prize to kickstart their own nature projects with our partners at Let’s Go Zero. From growing sensory gardens to creating ponds, the Nature Prize will bring over 37,000 children closer to nature.
Supporting students to give their teachers lessons about the climate. Exploring themes like environmental justice and reducing carbon, SOS-UK’s lesson plans show how climate education can be woven into all parts of the curriculum.
Teaching 26,000 students how to develop app prototypes that offer real and engaging opportunities to tackle the climate crisis, through Apps for Good’s innovative course. Guided by industry experts, young people can learn practical skills to build their very own climate technology.
Community Impact
Launched in 2023, we’re partnering with charities working in some of the least advantaged areas of Glasgow, London, and Bristol through our Community Impact grant programme. From increasing access to green spaces to enabling climate action, these organisations are making a real difference in their communities.
We choose our partners very carefully, finding those that are committed to supporting children and young people in their community. And collectively, these projects will result in some amazing outcomes:
Increased access to climate education and action
Access to green spaces and the chance to connect with nature
Boosted skills and self-esteem
Improved health and wellbeing
There’s no going it alone – it’s going to take all of us to tackle the climate crisis. So OVO team members will volunteer their time, knowledge, and skills to help these charities in their missions. All year round.
Questions and answers
The OVO Charitable Foundation (“OVO Foundation”) is a registered charity - its charity registration number is 1155954. Though our Foundation is an extension of our beliefs and values, it is independent and regulated by the Charity Commission. Find out more about what it means to be a registered charity on the Charity Commission website.
100% of OVO customers’ donations goes directly to OVO Foundation’s projects, and OVO matches every penny. That means that, together, we can do double the good!
At the moment, we’re only set up to accept donations from OVO customers. When you switch to OVO or renew your contract, we’ll ask if you’d like to make a donation. You can also start donating anytime during your contract or change your donation amount in My OVO.
If you have any further questions about the OVO Foundation, please visit our FAQs.
If you’re using our app
We’re sorry, but it’s not possible to set up OVO Foundation donations in the app right now. We hope to get this up and running in the future.
If you’d previously set up a donation you’ll see the monthly cost on your monthly charges summary. You can cancel your donation at ‘My upgrades’ on the Account section.
