UKFast is continuing to develop its focus on contributing to the local community with the appointment of a director of corporate social responsibility and fundraising.
Former Manchester United Foundation head of fundraising Russell Feingold joins the Manchester technology company to head up its community initiatives following six years with Key 103鈥檚 Cash for Kids project.
UKFast works with more than 60,000 young people across Greater Manchester, delivering workshops, code clubs and engagement sessions in some of the region鈥檚 most underprivileged wards in a project that started more than a decade ago.
The fast-growing tech firm also has a long history of fundraising and volunteering for charitable projects, including Key 103鈥檚 Cash for Kids, Harvey鈥檚 Den, Children in Need and other campaigns.
The appointment sees UKFast founders Lawrence and Gail Jones formalise and expand their long-term commitment to charity and local community work.
UKFast CEO Lawrence Jones said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e been working with a number of local projects for many years to make a difference in people鈥檚 lives. The most important part of creating a sustainable future for Manchester lies in nurturing the next generation and ensuring that every child in the region has the same opportunities to learn and grow.
鈥溊暇牌凡鑕s have a huge amount of resource at their fingertips. It鈥檚 not just about money. It鈥檚 about the time, passion and energy they can contribute.
鈥淚s it not our responsibility as businesses owners to give back to the community where we鈥檙e based and work hard to ensure we do everything we possibly can?
鈥淩ussell is an incredible character with energy and passion. He has a proven track record of delivering real change for disadvantaged children in Greater Manchester and is the right person to help us take our work in the community to the next level.鈥�
Feingold鈥檚 brief includes the management of a fund which is to be made available for local community organisations and projects supporting disadvantaged children across Greater Manchester.
Feingold said: 鈥淭his is a dream role for me. To combine the energy of the聽UKFast team with my love of supporting disadvantaged children is an amazing opportunity.
鈥淯KFast already does outstanding work across education and technology in the region’s schools. I鈥檓 here to develop our strategy further and use the power of the brand to support even more local organisations.
鈥淚 first met Lawrence during my time with Cash for Kids. When UKFast came on board it added some serious weight to the project and we saw an amazing spike in our results.
鈥淟awrence was always there pushing us, encouraging us to set the bar higher. It really inspired me to work with UKFast and work alongside people who set the bar higher every day.
鈥淚t was this experience, all those years ago, that inspired me to be part of the UKFast team now.鈥�
UKFast delivers more than 500 educational events to the Manchester community each year. With backing from the government, the cloud firm is set to build a new digital-focused high-school in the city, in partnership with the Dean Trust.