Foundation for the Future: Empowering youth through international volunteering

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Seddon is a proud supporter of Foundation for the Future, a charitable initiative set up and managed by our client Bolton at Home. This impactful programme sees volunteers work across Romania, Hungary, and Slovenia, focusing on projects that enhance community well-being. Through this work, Foundation for the Future offers a unique opportunity for young people from challenged backgrounds to engage in volunteer work abroad, collaborating with partner charities.

The initiative serves a dual purpose:

  • Providing partner charities with essential manpower to build or renovate sustainable infrastructure and facilities.
  • Offering young volunteers invaluable experience, key skills, and a profound sense of accomplishment by enabling them to make a tangible difference in people's lives.

About Foundation for the Future

Foundation for the Future programmes are designed for individuals who are passionate about hands-on work and strive to create lasting impact. These initiatives provide young people with international experience, helping them develop crucial employability, intercultural, and interpersonal skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving.

Supporting Budapest’s homeless shelter

Seddon's commitment to Foundation for the Future goes beyond financial support. We actively engage in the programme by sending our own team members as volunteers and by sponsoring young participants from challenging backgrounds. This year, this commitment was exemplified through our involvement in a project in Budapest, Hungary.

Seddon sponsored the participation of Yahya Issa, a young person who was part of The House Project – an organisation that supports young people transitioning out of the care system in Greater Manchester – providing him with a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth. Additionally, Nicole McKinley, assistant quantity surveyor and Harry Brooks, apprentice bricklayer, volunteered their time and expertise to the project.

The project focused on upgrading and restoring facilities at a homeless shelter in the city centre of Budapest. Over the course of two weeks, the volunteers worked hard on various tasks including basic building repairs, renovations, painting walls and classrooms, and upgrading furniture for the women staying at the shelter. This hands-on experience not only improved the living conditions for the shelter's residents but also provided invaluable learning opportunities for the volunteers.

Transformative experiences through volunteering

For Yahya, the experience was transformative. After the project, Yahya spoke to us about his experience. The two-week journey allowed him to discover new skills and interests in practical work, particularly in areas like painting, decorating, and basic repairs.

Yahya emphasised how the project improved his teamwork abilities. He shared that he learned how to work effectively with a group, which was a new experience as he had previously preferred to work independently. Importantly, Yahya highlighted how the experience inspired his future aspirations. He is now considering his options for a career within the construction industry.

Nicole McKinley was also part of the trip to Hungary. There, she spent two weeks working at a women's shelter, helping the team to restore vital facilities for residents. Recently speaking to CIOB People about her experience with Foundation for the Future, Nicole shared, “The programme was so rewarding, especially seeing the lasting impact of our work on the women who need these facilities. Being a part of a project fundamental to community wellbeing was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Seddon’s future commitments

Our support for Foundation for the Future aligns closely with our values of community engagement and our belief that people make places. By providing opportunities for skill development, promoting inclusivity, and contributing to international community projects, we demonstrate our commitment to making a positive impact beyond our immediate business operations.

As we look to the future, we remain committed to supporting Foundation for the Future and similar initiatives. By investing in young people and communities, we not only contribute to societal well-being but also help nurture the next generation of skilled, compassionate professionals in the construction industry.