Inside Our Learn + Lunch with OakNorth

At Founders4Schools (F4S), we believe that a single conversation with a professional can fundamentally change how a young person sees their future.

Recently, we sat down with our partners at OakNorth Bank for a “Learn + Lunch” session. It was an inspiring opportunity to reflect on our shared impact and discuss how volunteers are the vital bridge between the classroom and the career of a student’s dreams.

Connecting Classrooms to the World of Work

Over the past decade, F4S volunteers have reached more than 700,000 students across the UK. For many of these young people, a session with an F4S volunteer is their first-ever interaction with a professional. It’s a moment that opens doors they didn’t even know existed.

Why Partnerships Like OakNorth Matter

The OakNorth x F4S partnership thrives because OakNorth recognizes that thriving businesses and thriving communities go hand in hand. Through their “1% Pledge” (donating 1% of profits and 1% of employee time), OakNorth team members are empowered to give back in ways that are flexible, meaningful, and highly impactful.

During our session, we explored how employees across finance, tech, operations, and customer support can use their “lived experience” to demystify the world of work. By sharing their personal journeys, they help students understand:

• The specific skills employers actually value.
• The many different routes into a professional career.
• The day-to-day realities of working life.

Impact in Action

We were proud to share a testimonial from Chinyere Nnaukwu-Kalu Nkwocha, Careers Advisor at Bishop Ullathorne Catholic School. Chinyere recently arranged a Year 7 careers event where volunteers spoke in person. The result? Students left feeling engaged, inspired, and energised simply because someone from the professional world took the time to show up for them.

Encouraging the ripple effect

Volunteering is most powerful when it’s shared. We encourage everyone in the F4S community to help us spread the word. By inviting a colleague, peer, or friend to join our platform, you ensure that schools have access to a diverse, representative pool of role models.

Want to help? If you’d like an information pack to share with your network or want to learn more about volunteering with F4S, please reach out to Candace Wilson: 📧 community@f4s.org.uk